ADHD Child Medication Linked To Heart Problems And Seizures

#1

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is one of the most common "conditions" faced by the youth today.

It is reported that around 11% of children in the United States aged 4-17 (about 6.4 million kids) have been labelled with ADHD. The most common form of therapy is in the form of medication whereby the kids are being given drugs to cope with it.

#2

This is obviously very controversial considering that ADHD is not actually a medical condition. It is instead described as a "behavioral disorder" defined by over-activity, not being able to pay attention and impulsiveness.

In reality, ADHD is the constant desire of knowledge and new information with boredom in repeating the same task twice. Doesn't sound like we need to medicate, we should be helping these people find their true calling, imagine what they could achieve if all their energies were to be placed in one basket.

#3

The Practice of Prescribing ADHD Medication

Children are diagnosed with ADHD if their behavioral traits match certain criteria however there is no specific test currently being used by medical professionals to diagnose ADHD,.

Doctor's use their own discretion to decide whether or not to diagnose. ADHD medication such as Ritalin and Adderall is then prescribed to these children.

The over-prescription of this medication is seen as a large problem in modern society and culture. Not only is it unnecessary, but there is also evidence to suggest that these medications have serious short-term and long-term effects on an individuals health.

#4

Many parents are wary to put their children on these drugs because of this, and we believe rightly so.

Although these drugs may have some benefits when helping children suffering from severe psychological and behavioral problems they are too widely used to be deemed safe.

If you are contemplating putting your child who has been diagnosed with ADHD on these drugs, this is how you know if they really need them.

#5 Do They Really Have ADHD?

As ADHD is a behavioral issue not a medical condition, its symptoms are commonly mistaken for other unseen conditions. ADHD-like symptoms can be caused by a range of medical disorders, including depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and other mental health conditions.

Always ensure that your child is not suffering from any of these conditions so that they are not misdiagnosed and mistreated with the application of ADHD medications.

#6 Is ADHD Getting In The Way Of Their Life?

When ADHD is confirmed to be the case in your child and he/she is not suffering from any other underlying conditions, serious thought should be given befo you determine the severity of their behavioral disorder.

Ask yourself, is their ADHD-like behavior having a negative impact on their social life or education? Does it affect their ability to interact with others on a day-to-day basis, or does it result in physical harm to themselves? If the answer is "no" to all of those questions, it is likely that your child is not in dire need of ADHD medication.

#7 Do They Suffer From Any Physical Health Conditions?

ADHD medication is a melange of various amphetamines and other stimulants. Many of these chemicals can have a serious impact on a child's health if they have pre-existing conditions. This is especially true if they are at risk of any heart related conditions. This is because long-term use of ADHD medication has been linked to a variety of heart related health problems, including high blood pressure and an irregularly fast heart beat.

Even ADHD medications that aren't stimulants, such as Strattera, have been linked to similar health problems, including irregular heartbeat and seizures.

#8

Although the prescribed ADHD medication may be necessary for certain individuals, it is always important to know the facts before allowing your children to use them.

#9

In a news release, journal editor Dr. Harold Koplewicz said the study "confirms the small but real risk we have understood for some time through prior reports and clinical experience." Koplewicz is president of the Child Mind Institute in New York City.

The findings raise the question of whether the benefits of the drugs outweigh the possible harms. In the big picture, few children who took the drugs actually developed heart problems, study lead author Dalsgaard said.

"Indeed, the benefits from ADHD medication can be worth the risk of adverse effects, but we should not underestimate the risk of cardiac effects," he said.

#10

Adesman emphasized the rarity of heart problems in ADHD patients. Parents may wish to talk to a pediatric cardiologist if their child has an existing heart problem and they wish to put them on a stimulant for ADHD, he said.

"In my experience, most cardiologists will support treatment with stimulant medication for most children with congenital heart disease -- even for kids who have had open heart surgery to repair a malformed heart," he said.

More research is planned, Dalsgaard said, especially to unravel an unusual finding in the study. Children seemed at higher risk of heart problems if their doctors had lowered their drug dosage. It's not clear if the change in dose contributed to the heart issues or whether there's another explanation.