ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and is currently one of the fastest growing mental health disorders. Ironically, there is no definitive test for ADHD rather a series of written and verbal inquires that are compiled and evaluated by a medical professional on their way to confirming a diagnosis and prescribing one of the ever popular stimulant medications.
As far as I know none of the major pharmaceutical companies have studied the relationship between ADHD, stimulants, and sudden death. However, the governmental agency known as the National Institute of Mental Health has looked into this issue and their finding are at least worth considering if you either have a son or daughter currently on these medications or may soon be making the difficult decision as to whether or not to make stimulant medications, such as Ritalin, a part of your child's daily routine.
It should also be pointed out that the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) has directed drug manufacturers to inform consumers of the possible risks stimulant medications present in children and adolescents with known pre-existing heart problems.
Rarity makes studying the relationships between ADHD, stimulants, and sudden death a real challenge. First, you have to have a group of children without a history of heart disease that died suddenly for no known reason and then compare that to a control group of children who had no history of heart disease and died suddenly of a known cause.
Even the doctors conducting this well run study stated "That the rarity of sudden unexplained death and the lack of long-term data on the effectiveness of these medications for reducing other health risks make a full benefit/risk assessment difficult.".
The study
This particular study was conducted a little over a year ago and identified 564 children and adolescents who had experienced sudden death for unexplained reasons. These youngsters had no known structural heart defects or other co-existing physical disorders known or suspected to be linked to sudden death.
Each of these children and adolescents were then matched with a comparable young person who had also died suddenly, but in an automobile accident. Information from autopsy records along with family and medical records was thoroughly reviewed.
When it was all said and done the study found that stimulants were used by 10 of the children and adolescents whose deaths were unexplained and by only 2 of those who died in a car crash.
While it is clear that more research needs to be done the two doctors conducting this study (Benedetto Viteillo, MD and Kenneth Towbin, MD) believe it will not be forthcoming because of the large number of subjects needed to truly draw a concrete conclusion one way or the other.
In the end their appears to be at least some evidence suggesting that stimulant medications when given to children and adolescents with ADHD could trigger sudden death.
The findings in this study should be enough to at least give parents of ADHD children and adolescents pause when deciding on a suitable treatment option, possibly considering alternatives to stimulant medications such as homeopathic ADHD remedies and/or behavioral therapies; both of which have been proven to be both safe and effective
Robert D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic consumer advocate for natural health and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field. To discover more about ADHD along with information about safe and effective herbal and homeopathic ADHD remedies Click Here
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