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Are the risks of further heart problems in children who are prescribed stimulant medication for ADHD than for children not taking these medications? Researchers University of Florida examined this issue, and what they found may make some parents uneasy.
The researchers analyzed the records of more 50,000 children and adolescents who had ADHD and were treated with stimulants like Ritalin and other methylphenidate compounds, Dexedrine, and Adderall. Were compared by results of this group to a database of more than 2 million children and teenagers to see if there are differences.
What they found was that the use of stimulant medications for ADHD in children and adolescents may be the cause of a greater number of visits to the emergency room, visits to the doctor's office because of cardiac symptoms, as a racing heart or blood pressure. But the study also found that deaths or serious heart complications, is as scarce as the population general.
They found that children and adolescents treated with stimulants for ADHD were about 20 percent more likely to have to go to the office the doctor or emergency room with cardiac symptoms that children and adolescents who were not taking stimulant medication. However, the rates of death or admission to hospital were no different than the rates among those not being treated with stimulant medication. Their results were published in the journal Pediatrics in December 2007.
There has been an ongoing controversy within the various committees of the FDA over whether stimulant medications should carry a "black box" label warning. The drug safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee vote 8 to 7 for the warning label, but the pediatric advisory committee did not think was justified. The Pediatric Advisory Committee concluded that "potential episodes of psychosis, aggression and attention deficit cardiac events with drugs in children do not warrant a black box warning. "This committee believes that cardiovascular events are of a similar risk in children with ADHD as adults, except those with cardiovascular compromise. The Committee also refused to endorse a black box label for psychiatric events, including aggression and suicide risk,
But after much discussion, the FDA said the "black box" warning to the labels of ADHD drugs warning of possible heart risks of medicines. These are the strongest warnings the FDA requires, a step away from pulling medicines. The warnings on the label including sudden death is possible in patients who have heart problems or heart defects, stroke and seizures the heart in adults, and increased heart rates and blood pressure.
The authors of this paper who do not know the long-term implications the increased heart rate and blood pressure in children and adolescents treated with stimulant medication. They also reported that about 25 per cent of children and adolescents treated with stimulants were also be prescribed an antidepressant or an antipsychotic medication, which can also affect the heart and the pressure pressure.
Learn about ADHD and treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at http://NewIdeas.net, or for 500 ADHD classroom interventions visit ADDinSchool.com. This information is not to be considered medical advice, but is for information only. Consult your physician.
