Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2008 Apr;17(2):459-74, xi.
doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2007.11.010.

Understanding the risk of using medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with respect to physical growth and cardiovascular function

Benedetto Vitiello  1
Affiliations
Review

Understanding the risk of using medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with respect to physical growth and cardiovascular function

Benedetto Vitiello. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2008 Apr.

Abstract

The effects of stimulant medications and atomoxetine on physical growth and on cardiovascular function are reviewed in light of the most recent data, with attention to clinical implications and research needs. Although these medications have a favorable benefit/risk profile and do not induce clinically significant changes in growth or cardiovascular function in the majority of cases, careful patient monitoring is needed to identify individuals at risk for negative outcomes. More research is needed to elucidate the mechanism of growth suppression to estimate better the risk for rare but life-threatening events and test the effectiveness of monitoring procedures.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Greenhill LL, Swanson JM, Vitiello B, et al. Impairment and deportment responses to different methylphenidate doses in children with ADHD: the MTA titration trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2001;40:180–187. - PubMed
    1. Wigal T, Greenhill LL, Chuang S, et al. Safety and tolerability of methylphenidate in preschool children with ADHD. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006;45:1294–1303. - PubMed
    1. Efron D, Jarman F, Barker M. Side effects of methylphenidate and dexamphetamine in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a double-blind, crossover trial. Pediatrics. 1997;100:662–666. - PubMed
    1. Research Units on Pediatric Psychopharmacology (RUPP) Autism Network. A randomized controlled crossover trial of methylphenidate in pervasive developmental disorders with hyperactivity. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62:1266–1274. - PubMed
    1. Zuvekas SH, Vitiello B, Norquist NS. Recent Trends in Stimulant Medication Use among U.S. Children. Am J Psychiatry. 2006;163:579–585. - PubMed

MeSH terms