ADHD medication linked with small increase in heart risk

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-03-07 03:00

International

Photo by Christina Victoria Craft on Unsplash

ADHD medication methylphenidate (commonly sold as Ritalin and Concerta) could be associated with a small increase in risk of heart problems, according to international research. The team looked at heart problems including heart disease, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure in just over 25,000 people a year before they were prescribed methylphenidate, and six months after they began using the medication. They then compared the rate of heart problems with about 250,000 people of similar demographics who were not using methylphenidate. The researchers say there was evidence of a small increase in risk of heart problems for those taking the medication, however as the risk remained small, it was not enough of a reason to withhold treatment. However, they say this information can be used to look at the risk-benefit equation for each person individually when prescribing the drug.

Attachments

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public. Research URLs will go live after the embargo ends.

Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Örebro University, Sweden

Funder: The project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement 965381 and the Swedish Research Council for Health,Working Life, andWelfare (2019-01172). Dr Larsson acknowledges receiving financial support from the Swedish Research Council (2018-02599) and the Swedish Brain Foundation (FO2021-0115).

Media Contact/s

Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.