ADHD Medications May Not Be Bad For Your Heart

Despite showing signs of elevated blood pressure and heart rate, researchers have found adults on medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are not an an increased risk for heart disease.

According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) 8 million adults live with ADHD, more commonly known as ADHD. ADHD is a condition associated with inattention, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, or a combination.

Various medications are prescribed to manage this chronic mental condition, and many of these medicines have been typically known to have negative affects on the heart. The December 2011 online issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that contradicts past findings, suggesting that ADHD medications aren’t as detrimental to the heart as previously determined.

The study consisted of 443,198 adults from ages 25 to 64 years of age. Out of those participants researchers selected 150,359 adults who took ADHD medications, and gauged the related heart affects of taking such drugs as Ritalin, Adderall, and Cylert over a two year time period.

Within that time span researchers documented 1,357 heart attacks, 575 strokes, and 296 cardiac related deaths, and the findings were in stark contrast to past studies. The cardiac deaths were of equal number between those who took ADHD medications, and those who did not, which may decrease worries of harmful side affects in the millions of patients who take ADHD medications.

The ADAA also states that cognitive-behavior-therapy is an alternative to medications, as some ADHD drugs may actually increase anxiety symptoms in patients. Anyone who believes they have ADHD, and for those who have been already diagnosed, continued visits with a health professional will determine the type of treatment for your condition, whether it be therapy, medications, or a needed combination.