A new study shows that Adderall, Ritalin and other stimulants used to treat ADHD can increase the chance of your child being rushed to the emergency room for heart related problems by 20 percent.
This study, published in the journal “Pediatrics,” looked at data on 55,383 ADHD children ages 3 to 20 years in FLorida. About 59 percent were taking a stimulant medication during the study period of 1994 to 2004.
Children taking a stimulant to control ADHD symptoms were 20 percent more likely to visit an emergency clinic or doctor’s office with heart-related symptoms, such as a racing heartbeat, than children who had never used or discontinued treatment.
In 2006 the FDA added a “black box” warning to the labels of ADHD drugs warning of cardiovascular risks associated with the medications. These risks included sudden death in patients who have heart problems or heart defects; stroke and heart attack in adults; and increased blood pressure and heart rate.
The authors of this study expressed the "great need" for additional research to determine the consequences of long-term stimulant use during childhood and its effect on heart disease in adulthood.
Each year between 3 and 4 million children take stimulant ADHD medications to control symptoms of ADHD.
Other known side effects of ADHD stimulants include loss of appetite, abdominal pain, sleep disruptions, headaches and stunted growth. Additionally, a small study, conducted by the University of Texas and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, found a link between Ritalin and increased risk of cancer. In this study, all children taking Ritalin experienced a significant increase in the chromosomal abnormalities associated with an a higher chance of developing cancer.
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