ADHD Drugs Linked to Teen Sudden Death

(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 include rapid heartbeat and extremely high blood pressure. Four deaths were among cases evaluated in the study. More»

Ritalin and other stimulants carry slight risk of cardiac trouble

(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. More»

Left-handed people more likely to develop neural disorders

(NEWSER) - About 10% of the population is left-handed, but a disproportionate amount of people with schizophrenia—20%—are lefties. Schizophrenia is just one of a number of psychiatric and developmental disorders that are more common in left-handed people, including dyslexia, ADHD, language difficulties, and mood disorders. Researchers think this could have something to do with the fact that each half of the brain performs distinct functions. Typically, a person's brain has a dominant side; in righties, that side is usually the left hemisphere. But 30% of lefties exhibit right-hemisphere dominance or a distributed pattern of dominance, which could lead to the greater risk of brain disorders. More»

Like Ritalin with fewer side effects, writes Christie Haskell

(NEWSER) - What do you do when your kid can’t sit still—but you’re concerned about the side effects of Ritalin? One mom offers an unusual remedy that goes against standard medical advice: Give the youngster coffee, she writes at the Stir blog at Cafe Mom . Christie Haskell didn’t want her hyperactive son diagnosed with ADHD, so she tried her own cure: The 7-year-old drinks coffee with breakfast. Ritalin’s “not exactly a shining success story,” but it’s a stimulant, boosting blood flow to the brain and helping people focus. Coffee’s a stimulant, too. More»

Study shows a genetic link for the first time

(NEWSER) - The next time the kid at the table next to you at dinner won’t stop banging his spoon on the table, pause before inwardly berating his parents. He may have ADHD —and a new study shows that, contrary to popular belief, the disorder is not caused by bad parenting or a poor diet filled with sugar and additives. Scientists from Cardiff University say it’s a genetic condition, the Independent reports. More»