Abstract Purpose of Review This review summarizes the potential impact of stimulant medications on bone health, to raise awareness and optimize their safe use. Recent Findings Stimulant medications can impair bone health through inadequate nutrient/calorie intake and stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which regulates bone metabolism. However, their use decreases fracture risk in younger populations (\: \: 25 years old) with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), likely through reductions in impulsivity and injury. Special care may be needed when fractures occur while using these medications, as recent data suggest psychostimulants are associated with impaired fracture healing. Summary Prescription and non-prescription use of psychostimulants have increased. Their ultimate effect on bone health may be a balance between effective behavioral modification and adverse effects on bone metabolism related to nutrition and sympathetic activation. Future research should investigate how psychostimulants affect acquisition of peak bone mass, stability of bone mineral density (BMD) when used through mid/late-life, and fracture healing.
Swanson et al. (Thu,) studied this question.