05/14/2024
WASHINGTON (MAR 27, 2024) - YOUNG ADULTS WHO WERE PRESCRIBED STIMULANT MEDICATIONS FOR ATTENTION-DEFICIT/HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP CARDIOMYOPATHY (WEAKENED HEART MUSCLE) COMPARED WITH THOSE WHO WERE NOT PRESCRIBED STIMULANTS, IN A STUDY PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY’S ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC SESSION.
THE STUDY FOUND THAT PEOPLE PRESCRIBED STIMULANTS SUCH AS ADDERALL AND RITALIN WERE 17% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CARDIOMYOPATHY AT ONE YEAR AND 57% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CARDIOMYOPATHY AT EIGHT YEARS COMPARED WITH THOSE WHO WERE NOT TAKING THESE MEDICATIONS.
Cardiomyopathy involves structural changes in the heart muscle that weaken its pumping ability. It can cause a person to tire easily and limit their ability to perform daily tasks, and it often worsens over time.
THE STUDY FOUND THAT PEOPLE PRESCRIBED STIMULANTS SUCH AS ADDERALL AND RITALIN WERE 17% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CARDIOMYOPATHY AT ONE YEAR AND 57% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CARDIOMYOPATHY AT EIGHT YEARS COMPARED WITH THOSE WHO WERE NOT TAKING THESE MEDICATIONS.
Prescribing Adderall, a stimulant medication, to a patient with a history of
hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease can pose significant risks:
1. CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS: ADDERALL CAN INCREASE HEART RATE AND BLOOD PRESSURE, PLACING ADDITIONAL STRAIN
ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR PATIENTS WITH PRE-EXISTING HEART DISEASE OR HYPERTENSION,
POTENTIALLY LEADING TO SEVERE COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS HEART ATTACK, STROKE, AND WORSENING OF HEART DISEASE.
2. Increased Hypertension: Adderall/VYVANSE can exacerbate existing
hypertension, making it more difficult to manage and
increasing the risk of damage to the heart, kidneys, and other organs.
3. ARRHYTHMIAS: ADDERALL CAN CAUSE IRREGULAR HEART RHYTHMS, WHICH CAN BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR THOSE WITH EXISTING HEART DISEASE.
***4. SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH: IN RARE CASES, ADDERALL CAN CAUSE SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE WITH PRE-EXISTING HEART CONDITIONS.
5. INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER MEDICATIONS: ADDERALL/VYVANSE MAY INTERACT WITH MEDICATIONS COMMONLY USED TO TREAT
HYPERTENSION AND HEART DISEASE, POTENTIALLY REDUCING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS OR
CAUSING OTHER ADVERSE EFFECTS.RECENT STUDY FOUND THAT PEOPLE PRESCRIBED STIMULANTS SUCH AS ADDERALL AND RITALIN WERE 17% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CARDIOMYOPATHY AT ONE YEAR AND 57% MORE LIKELY TO HAVE CARDIOMYOPATHY AT
EIGHT YEARS COMPARED WITH THOSE WHO WERE NOT TAKING THESE MEDICATIONS. CARDIOMYOPATHY INVOLVES STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE HEART MUSCLE THAT WEAKEN ITS PUMPING ABILITY. IT CAN CAUSE A PERSON TO TIRE EASILY AND LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM DAILY TASKS, AND IT OFTEN WORSENS OVER TIME.
THE RESEARCHERS FOUND THAT THE USE OF ADDERALL/VYVANSE COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO AN INCREASED HEART RATE, HIGHER BLOOD PRESSURE, AND CHANGES IN HEART RHYTHM.
PROLONGED USE OF THE MEDICATION WAS ASSOCIATED WITH MORE SEVERE CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS, INCLUDING
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, STROKE, AND IN SOME EXTREME CASES, SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH.
The study also emphasized the need for clinicians to carefully consider the cardiovascular risk before
prescribing Adderall, especially in patients with pre-existing heart conditions. It was suggested that alternative treatments should be considered for patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
The American Academy of Cardiology encourages further research to better understand the long-term effects of Adderall on the heart.
As medical practitioners, it's critical that we stay informed of these findings and consider them in our practice to ensure the best possible care for our patients.
Given these risks, Adderall should be used with extreme caution, if at all, in
patients with a history of hypertension or heart disease. A thorough evaluation of the patient's medical
history, current health status, and
other medications is essential, and alternative treatments should be considered.
Regular monitoring of the patient's cardiovascular health is also crucial if such a prescription is made.
DISCLAIMER: THIS TEXT DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. IT IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH PROVIDER WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING A MEDICAL CONDITION.
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