new study finds that children with congenital heart disease and ADHD can take stimulant medications without fear of significant cardiovascular side effects

A recent study shows that ADHD medications (stimulants) aren’t as dangerous as our society assumed.  In order to investigate the effect of medications such as Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin, on the heart, researchers compared the effect of such drugs between patients with heart disease, and without heart disease.

I have ADD, and consequently need to take ADHD medications.  These medications are stimulants, and thoroughly combat the negative effects of ADHD.  I am always worried, however, that they are a tax on my heart.  In order to further investigate the possibility of such consequences, this study observed 44 children between the ages of 6-18 at Cincinnati’s Children Heart Institute Kindervelt Neurodevelopmental and Educational Clinic.  These children (with heart disease) were given ADHD stimulants, and their results were compared to those with similar heart disease, who did not take ADHD stimulants.  In order to observe the biological differences, this study used an electrocardiogram, also known as an EKG.  For those of you who have not had one, it’s the process where they hook up a lot of wires to you and examine everything about your heart rate.  The results of the study surprised me.  They proved stimulants were safe, and the most effective way to combat the side effects of ADD, or ADHD.  I was incredibly surprised that the ingestion of stimulants didn’t worsen their heart conditions, or make it more likely to acquire such cardiovascular diseases.  While such drugs have been proven to be “safe,” it’s important to read the directions and precautions on your prescription.

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For example, Adderall suggests users should refrain from use if they have high blood pressure, glaucoma, severe anxiety, depressions, seizures, etc (drugs.com).  This study doesn’t mean one should disregard such instructions, however, it shows the relative safety of healthy patients taking ADHD medications.  In simpler words, I am more at ease taking my prescribed ADHD stimulants; knowing that people with heart disease can ingest them, without experiencing decreases in health.

sources:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/10/151005080122.htm

http://www.drugs.com/adderall.html

 

One thought on “new study finds that children with congenital heart disease and ADHD can take stimulant medications without fear of significant cardiovascular side effects

  1. Adam David Mccullough

    I am extremely confused as to how the scientists in the study were given permission to conduct the study. I know that it is ethical to give an extremely ill patient test medication because there odds of the condition worsening are the same as if they do not take the medicine. However, it seems as though in this trial the scientist were placing the children with heart disease in danger simply to investigate the effects of the drugs. Another thing that I began to wonder while reading the blog is if ADHD medicine has worse effects on people using it without ADHD.

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