New research from Denmark is pointing in the direction of medications such as Ritalin and Concerta making rare cardiac problems twice as likely, although still uncommon, reports WebMD Health News.
"The risk of adverse cardiac effects of ADHD medication is real and should not be forgotten," said study lead author Dr. Soren Dalsgaard, an associate professor at Aarhus University, reports the WebMD health site.
However, doctors and parents should not be alarmed and take kids off stimulant medication if they have benefits from it and no cardiac symptoms, he said. "But we should continue to monitor cardiovascular status," reports WebMd.
The findings are not yet definitive because they seem to conflict with some previous research that looked at fewer heart conditions over shorter periods of time.
The inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity associated with ADHD can make it hard for children with the disorder to learn and socialize. Stimulant drugs taken on a daily basis can help control these behaviors.
The number of children around the world with ADHD who take stimulant medications is increasing, according to background research in the study. Experts say these drugs can boost heart rate and blood pressure, reports WebMD.
"The most common cardiac effects are benign -- very small, clinically insignificant increases in heart rate or blood pressure," said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park.
Alarms sounded because of reports of sudden deaths, heart attack andstroke related to ADHD drugs, which has led some physicians to assess heart health before starting young people on the drugs.
