Key result
ADHD medications, particularly stimulants, may cause sustained increases in heart rate and blood pressure, potentially elevating the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial infarction.
Why the study?
Do pharmacological treatments for ADHD increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction?
Do pharmacological treatments for ADHD increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction?
ADHD medications, particularly stimulants, may pose long-term cardiovascular risks due to sustained increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
Will this medication have negative effects in the short and long term? This is a very common question clinicians encounter when discussing the option of starting a pharmacological treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which includes stimulants (methylphenidate and amphetamines) and nonstimulants (eg, atomoxetine, clonidine, guanfacine, and viloxazine).1 Concerns about cardiovascular risk associated with ADHD medications, particularly stimulants, are among the most serious ones. Indeed, as stimulants are sympathomimetic agents with dopaminergic and noradrenergic effects, increased values of heart rate and blood pressure after treatment are plausible from a biological standpoint.1 In turn, over the long term, sustained increases in heart rate and blood pressure might result in left ventricular hypertrophy and an elevated risk of myocardial infarction.
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Cortese et al. (2023) conducted an editorial in Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD medications was evaluated. ADHD medications, particularly stimulants, may cause sustained increases in heart rate and blood pressure, potentially elevating the risk of left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial infarction.
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