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Ask
the Pharmacist By Ron and Marla Chapleau |
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Q: What’s the latest on heart problems and drugs that treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? A: Some of you may recall that back in 2005 and 2006, this issue was first raised and led to grave concern among users of these medicines as well as their caregivers, doctors and the government agencies that are mandated to protect our health. These concerns were based on the findings that between 1999 and 2003, 25 people taking ADHD medications (such as methylphenidate products like Ritalin and Concerta, Adderall and Strattera) died suddenly and 42 other people experienced major cardiovascular events such as strokes and heart attacks. Given the knowledge that these stimulants cause on average an increase in heart rate of 1-2 beats/minutes and a rise in blood pressure of 3-4mm HG (which are generally not the sort of increases that should cause health problems in most of us), Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sounded the warning and these drugs and their cardiac effects have been closely monitored since. Now researchers this week have released the findings of a study that looked at the health records of more than 1.2 million children and young adults (ages ranged from two to 24) who took Ritalin or Adderall (Strattera was not assessed). Researchers checked for evidence of heart attacks, strokes and sudden cardiac death and were unable to find any increased risk for either patients who were currently on these drugs or those who had taken these types of drugs in the past. If there is indeed any risk, it must be very, very small to not have registered in a study of this magnitude.
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Nonetheless,
experts believe that these drugs should not be used in patients with
serious underlying heart problems such as structural abnormalities,
cardiomyopathy, serious heart rhythm abnormalities and other rare
problems.
For the rest of us, the potential for cardiac damage should not be a factor in the always difficult decision as to whether to use these drugs or not. For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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