Health Risks in Treating ADHD, or Hyperactivity, With Drugs

• ADHD Update, new data on the risks of medication
• Blood pressure and heart problems. Stimulants raise blood pressure and heart rate
• Growth suppression. Many children start taking ADHD medications young and stay on the drugs for years, so the effect on growth is a persisting concern.
• Abuse and diversion. Investigators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined the records of 64 hospital emergency departments and found 188 visits involving ADHD medications from August 2003 to December 2005. The overwhelming majority of the patients were children, and in 60% of cases the cause was intentional ingestion or an overdose, usually of a medication prescribed for someone else.
• Crushing the pills and snorting (snuffing) them can produce a cocaine-like high

• Treating ADHD without medication
• The treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD) in children usually involves a combination of medication, education and behavioral intervention; however, it is not unusual for parents to want drug-free options.