Children who use ADHD medications are more at risk for a cardiac event if they have an undiagnosed heart problem and use stimulant medications like Ritalin, Adderall, or Concerta, so the American Heart Association has issued a statement recommending that electrocardiograms be done before a child starts on the medications, and that children already using the medications have an ECG, too.
The recommendations are to protect children who benefit from the stimulants used to treat ADD/ADHD but may have undiagnosed heart conditions without symptoms. I'm sure the newspaper and television stories about the recommendations are causing a great deal of anxiety and concern among families and medical professionals.
Pam W
SE of Seattle
ADHD Medications and Cardiovascular Events
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