Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


0

Pre-Drug Heart Checks Urged for ADHD Kids

Ritalin and other stimulants carry slight risk of cardiac trouble

Share

(Newser) – Children with ADHD should have their hearts checked for abnormalities before starting treatment with Ritalin or other stimulants, the American Heart Association warns. Serious heart problems have occurred in only a small fraction of the millions of children being treated for ADHD, but the group's experts say it's enough for concern, Reuters reports.

"It's a relatively inexpensive and simple test that doesn't hurt children in any way and it will let us identify some of these children and know that they have heart conditions," said the doctor making the recommendation.

Research has shown drugs like Ritalin can raise the heart rate and blood pressure, leading experts to call for children to have a heart checkup before taking the drugs.
Research has shown drugs like Ritalin can raise the heart rate and blood pressure, leading experts to call for children to have a heart checkup before taking the drugs.   ((c) thp365)
Heart experts have recommended that children have their heart health tested before taking drugs for ADHD.
Heart experts have recommended that children have their heart health tested before taking drugs for ADHD.   ((c) hipsxxhearts)
A child undergoes treatment for ADHD. Heart experts have recommended that children have their hearts checked for abnormalities before taking drugs for the condition.
A child undergoes treatment for ADHD. Heart experts have recommended that children have their hearts checked for abnormalities before taking drugs for the condition.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
0 comments
VIEWING:
 
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

10 Stories

(AP) - Calls to poison control centers about teens abusing attention-deficit drugs soared 76% over eight years, a new study shows, highlighting the dangerous consequences of prescription abuse. The calls were from worried parents, emergency room doctors, and others seeking advice on how to deal with side-effects of ADHD drugs, which can... More »

MORE ABOUT:
ADHD • study • prescription drugs • drug abuse • Ritalin

ADHD Drugs Linked
to Teen Sudden Death

Children, teens who died suddenly likelier to have been on meds that those killed in car crashes

Jun 16, 09 1:22 AM CDT
(Newser) - A new study suggests that taking ADHD drugs like Ritalin puts young people at a higher risk of sudden cardiac death, WebMd reports. Children in the study who died suddenly and inexplicably were six to seven times likelier to have been taking ADHD medication containing stimulants. More »

MORE ABOUT:
ADHD • prescription drugs • cardiac arrest • Ritalin • teenager • attention deficit disorder

OPINION

 Drug Trials a Lot Like Reality TV 


May 14, 09 12:51 PM CDT
(Newser) - Only one couple from The Bachelor has actually gotten married. No Apprentice winner has become fabulously wealthy. American Idol produced Taylor Hicks. Reality shows don’t always make good on their real-world promises, and in that way, they’re a lot like clinical drug trials, writes pediatrician Darshak Sanghavi in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
reality TV • American Idol • ADHD • pharmaceutical industry • clinical trials • Ritalin • The Bachelor • The Apprentice • Taylor Hicks

10 Stories


AHA recommends heart work-out before ADHD drugs
Wall Street Journal

Heart screening worth the hassle, experts say
US News & World Report

ECG could identify children at risk
Bloomberg

The American Heart Association's study
American Heart Association


Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserScience on Twitter

 
ADHD • children • cardiac arrest • Ritalin • heart health

from our news partners