The use of ADHD medications by children and adults was associated with generally small increases in blood pressure and heart rate in a new study. Authors call the results reassuring.
If you or your child take ADHD medication, a new study may help ease your concerns about possible heart effects.
Researchers found drugs used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder have generally small effects on blood pressure and heart rate.
The researchers analyzed data from 102 randomized controlled trials including more than 22,700 children and adults with ADHD. They compared the effects of several medications and found overall small increases in blood pressure, heart rate and other measures of electrical activity.
There were no significant differences between stimulant ADHD meds and non-stimulant drugs, according to the results. Only the ADHD drug guanfacine led to decreased blood pressure and heart rate.
The lead investigator says, “Overall, the risk-benefit ratio is reassuring for people taking ADHD medications.”
But he adds that doctors should keep a close eye on the heart health of anyone taking them And people with existing heart conditions should discuss potential side effects with a cardiologist before starting treatment.
Source: The Lancet Psychiatry
Author Affiliations: University of Southampton, University of São Paulo, Toulouse University Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, University of Bern, King's College London, Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, Örebro University, University of Oxford, Karolinska Institutet, University of Verona, Lund University, University of Southampton, New York University , University of Studies of Bari Aldo Moro
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