Researchers found a significantly increased risk of heart problems linked to ADHD drugs, but say the risks are not high enough to recommend avoiding use of the medications.
Children and adults are being prescribed ADHD medications at increasing rates and for extended periods of time, which could result in greater long-term risks of heart disease side effects, according to new research.
Patients given off-label doses of ADHD drugs like Ritalin and Adderall were more likely to quit using them due to adverse side effects, researchers found.
ADHD medication errors often occurred when children were mistakenly given either the wrong drug, or were given the same ADHD dose twice by accident, researchers determined.
Participants given ADHD drugs like Adderall and Ritalin put much more effort into tests, but their test scores suffered as a result, instead of improving, the researchers found.
Officials say they are particularly concerned about the sharing and misuse of prescription stimulants, which can lead to serious health risks, overuse and abuse of ADHD drugs
In some schools with high rates of ADHD drug prescriptions, up to a quarter of students are misusing the drugs, the study warns.
