Drugs for ADHD are Safe for Adult Hearts
Drugs used to treat attention deficit disorder do not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in adults, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In the largest study of these medicines in adults, researchers reviewed the health records for nearly half a million adults between the ages of 25 and 64. They found that those taking ADHD drugs such as Ritalin had the same number of heart attacks, strokes and sudden heart-related deaths as adults who didn't use those drugs.
A study of children with ADHD published last month had similar findings.
According to WebMd, millions of children and adults in the U.S. take stimulants such as Adderall, Concerta, Metadate, Methylin, Ritalin, or the non-stimulant Strattera to treat ADHD symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulse control, and trouble focusing.
While these drugs do not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, they have all been shown to slightly raise blood pressure and heart rate, which can contribute to heart problems.
Roughly 4 percent of adults (9 million) and 8 percent of children ages 3 to 17 (5 million) in the U.S. have been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.
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