Cardiologists Recommend Heart Screening for Children Taking ADHD Stimulants
The American Heart Association has issued new pediatric recommendations that call for heart fitness screenings prior to stimulant treatment for all children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The new patient safety guidelines were published in a recent issue of the journal Circulation -- official journal of the American Heart Association -- and they address growing fears that stimulant medications can cause serious heart complications in children with underlying, undiagnosed heart disease.
The recommended AHA heart screening should include:
- "A detailed patient and family medical history, particularly regarding heart disease
- A full physical exam, including blood pressure and heart beat monitoring
- An electrocardiogram (ECG)
- A pediatric cardiologist consultation prior to treatment if evidence of heart disease is uncovered.
- After treatment begins, children should continue to have blood pressure check-ups once every 1 to 3 months, and routine health check-ups every 6 - 12 months."
ADHD is the most common neurobehavioral disorder among American kids. Estimates suggest that between 4% and 12% of American school-aged children have the condition. More than 2.5 million children in the United States are being prescribed ADHD medications, the organization notes.
Some of the names under which these potentially dangerous stimulant drugs are marketed include Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, Focalin, Ritalin, Ritalin SR or LA, and Metadate ER or CD. The new recommendations refer to all of these stimulants, as well as to a newer, still lesser-known drug known as Strattera, which was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a non-stimulant treatment for ADHD.
According to research data, children with underlying heart disease who take stimulants for ADHD face an increased risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, heart disease often goes undiagnosed in many children and it may even be present without noticeable symptoms.
In February 2007, the FDA ordered makers of ADHD medications to develop guidelines that alert patients to the heart risks associated with their treatments.
Experts warn that serious heart complications from stimulant medications are very rare, but because there are patient safety concerns with regard to some children, routine ECG screenings will provide greater certainty that the drug is safe for everyone who may take it.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- Research suggests that 9% of all U.S. children meet ADHD diagnostic criteria
- New parents' guide to ADHD treatment options without drug company bias
- A new study linking children's blood lead levels to ADHD
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