A recent incident involving a North Carolina mother and her son's ADHD medication has raised concerns about the consistency and accuracy of prescription dosages. Tabetha Klein, a mother of two, discovered unsettling inconsistencies in her 12-year-old son Noah's ADHD medication dosage during the holiday season.
Due to Noah's sensitivity to red 40 dye, Klein had been regularly transferring his medication into clear pill capsules. However, while handling his December prescription, she noticed that some of the transferred contents only filled half of the replacement capsules. Puzzled and alarmed by this mislabeling, Klein took to TikTok to share her experience, hoping to learn if others had encountered similar issues. She later posted three updates to provide further information.
In her TikTok video, Klein showcased two clear capsules containing vastly different levels of medication. She noted that the higher dosage seemed more consistent with the previous month's prescription, which had come from a different manufacturer. This discovery left her uncertain about the source of the issue, especially considering the ongoing shortage of ADHD medication.
In her pursuit of answers, Klein reached out to both her pharmacy and the drug manufacturer. Unfortunately, she received little feedback and decided to file reports with regulatory agencies such as the FDA. However, despite submitting her complaints and reports, she has yet to receive any substantive response beyond acknowledgments of submission.
In a subsequent TikTok video, Klein informed her audience that she had managed to obtain brand-specific Adderall pills for Noah to ensure consistent dosages, thus avoiding the variability associated with different manufacturers. Since transitioning to the new medication, Klein reports that Noah's dosage has remained stable.
Klein's original TikTok post garnered significant attention, receiving over 860,000 views and 63,000 likes. Numerous viewers empathized with her experience and shared their own similar stories in the comments section. Some even expressed concerns about the consistency of their own medications.
One individual shared their struggles with a different drug, revealing that a change in the manufacturer led to a significant negative impact on their mental health, requiring further interventions. These anecdotes highlight the broader issue of medication consistency and its potential impact on users' well-being.
Klein also disclosed that Noah's inconsistent medication has raised concerns at his school. Teachers have noticed fluctuations in his behavior, with some days exhibiting heightened hyperactivity and others showing improved focus. Klein believes that these variations may be attributed to the inconsistent dosage.
Additionally, she noted that her son's reduced appetite during the school day, a common side effect of stimulant medication, has served as a helpful indicator of its effectiveness. While she is not pleased with Noah's lack of hunger for health reasons, it suggests that the medication is working to its fullest extent.
Since switching to brand-specific Adderall, Noah's appetite has consistently remained low, indicating a stable and effective medication regimen. However, it remains unclear why the initial medication had such significant dosage inconsistencies and how widespread this issue may be among other users.
Klein's TikTok posts have sparked conversation and concern, encouraging individuals to pay closer attention to their own prescriptions and advocate for accurate and consistent dosages. As she continues to await responses from regulatory agencies, her story serves as a reminder of the importance of transparent information and the need for vigilant oversight in the pharmaceutical industry.
