 Wysłany: Nie 17:12, 08 Gru 2013 Temat postu: Questions Continue Over ADHD Meds |
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| Questions Continue Over ADHD Meds
As reported by the National Institute of Mental Health, a study examining stimulant use among children and adolescents found an association between stimulants and sudden unexplained death in youth with no evidence of preexisting heart disease. Stimulant medications are widely used to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The medications help reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and improve the ability of affected children to focus and learn. Research has shown that stimulants can also have effects on the cardiovascular system, for example,[url=http://www.sport.fr/sponsoring/uggpascher.html]ugg pas cher[/url], raising blood pressure and heart rate. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to direct drug manufacturers to inform consumers of possible risks of stimulant medications in children and adolescents with known preexisting heart problems. In order to assess the association between stimulants and risk of death in young people, the National Institute of Mental Health and the FDA jointly funded a study looking at records of children and adolescents who died suddenly and unexpectedly. These youth had no known structural heart defects or other coexisting physical disorders known or suspected to be associated with sudden death. Each of these young people was then matched with a comparison young person who had also died suddenly, but in a motor vehicle accident. Information from family, medical, and autopsy records were systematically reviewed. The results revealed that stimulants were used by 10 of the young people whose deaths were unexplained and by 2 who died in crashes. (The stimulant found in each case was methylphenidate [Ritalin]. This study examined deaths that occurred between 1985 and 1996, before mixed amphetamine preparations [Adderall] became commonly used). Because sudden death is extremely rare in childhood, randomized controlled studiesthe ideal approach to studying health effects in populationscannot be conducted to investigate such events. The editorial went on to note that while randomized prospective studies are not practicalgiven the large numbers of subjects needed to detect such rare eventsadditional case/control studies would still be informative. In addition, research to improve screening methods for heart conditions that raise the risk of sudden death is essential. Finally, the editorial notes that sudden unexplained death is a rare event, 2) this is only the first such study, 3) it relies on small numbers, and 4) it is not possible to quantify the risk beyond estimating that it is very small. NIMH/NIH |
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