ADHD, congenital heart disease can be treated with stimulant medications: study

Studies show children with congenital heart disorder (CHD) are at high risk of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and due to the sensitivity of the condition, experts don’t prescribe the use of the usual ADHD drugs such as methylphenidate and dexamfetamine as they might cause sudden death. However, all of these might change as a new study discovers it is now safe to use these stimulant drugs as a treatment even if the child has CHD.

Business Standard reports that based on a research done at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center by lead author Dr. Julia Anixt, there was no direct relationship between the number of deaths or cardiac vital signs changes like blood pressure and heart rate in the intake of stimulant medications for ADHD and heart conditions. Furthermore, the research noted that children have shown significant improvements in symptoms when given these types of medications, better as the standard rating scales.

Dr. Anixt, a developmental and behavior pediatrician, shares that their study was able to prove that stimulants are not only effective but are also safe for use if prescribed together with continuous monitoring and in constant communication with a cardiologist. The research will help eradicate the fears of medical experts about the possible side effects if children with CHD and ADHD are treated with stimulant drugs.

The US Food and Drug Administration has requested most pharmaceutical companies to indicate a warning on their labels to ensure that no children or pre-teens suffering from structural cardiac disorders such as arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy will use the drugs. However, ADHD symptoms are best treated with these drugs, Eureka Alert writes. Dr. Anixt suggests families of patients and their respective doctors must work together to help weigh the benefits and risks of medication treatment choices for the patient.

The study was concluded through the help of 44 children from the age of six to 18. These participants were patients at the Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute Kindervelt Neurodevelopment and Educational Clinic. The researchers used the method of comparison on these patients against children with a similar heart condition but are not treated with stimulant drugs.

The study was presented at the yearly Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics in Las Vegas last Sunday, October 4th by Dr. Pon Trairatvorakul, a fellow physician from the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics division , Financial Express adds. The group will be studying the effect of the stimulant meds through measuring the heart’s electrical activity on electrocardiograms (EKG).