ADHD medications and risk of serious cardiovascular events in young and middle-aged adults

ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric conditions in children and adults. It is commonly treated with stimulant medication, such as Adderall or Ritalin.

Since these medications cause increases in heart rate and blood pressure, some concerns have been raised about whether they can increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

This study analyzed data from four large hospital systems to see whether those taking Adderall and Ritalin had higher rates of heart attacks and strokes. They did this by comparing patients who had been prescribed these medications to similar patients who were not prescribed those medications.

The researchers found no evidence of increased heart attack or stroke risk among those prescribed Ritalin or Adderall.

The results covered a large population and tracked a high number of heart attacks and strokes within the population, suggesting that the sample size was large enough to detect substantial increases in heart attack and stroke risk.

However, after adjusting for differences between those on ADHD medications and the controls, there was no evidence of any difference in risk of heart attack or stroke among those prescribed ADHD medication:

Based on these results, researchers concluded that there was no evidence of a higher risk of heart attack or stroke among those taking ADHD medication.

While this doesn’t prove that they are absolutely safe, it suggests that if a cardiovascular risk exists, it’s likely small and difficult to detect.

The results of this study reflect adults taking stimulant medications as directed. Stimulant medications carry significant known risks, including dependency. They are controlled substances and can be dangerous if abused.