M
M.a.r.k P.r.o.b.e.r.t-April 5, 2004
Guest
Study Links ADHD Drugs to Growth Delays
CHICAGO - New research bolsters evidence that stimulants like Ritalin
(news - web sites) used for attention deficit problems may stunt children's
growth, but it does not address whether the affect is permanent.
Children who took stimulants during the two-year study grew more than half
an inch less and gained over eight pounds less than those who weren't
medicated.
---------
Comment: Other studies have shown that thee is a different growth curve for
ADHD children which is not dependent on medication. Note that the authors do
not claim that growth is permanently stunted.
------------
The study involved 540 youngsters with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, who were aged 7 to 9 at the outset of the study and were randomly
assigned to receive common treatments including medication, behavior
management and a combination of the two.
Girls generally reach their final height around age 16 and boys around age
18, so it's too soon to tell if the growth delays continued or were
permanent, the researchers said.
American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines that recommend treating ADHD with
stimulants and behavior therapy say evidence collected by following
youngsters into adulthood indicates the drugs don't cause any significant
height reduction.
------------
Comment: This is correct. There is NO study that I have ever found that says
that the long term use of medication permanently affects growth.
------------
Weight loss, however, is a known potential side effect from long-term
stimulant use.
----------
Comment: Again, generally a short term problem which can be addressed by
adopting a different eating pattern.
----------
The study, led by University of California at Berkeley researcher Stephen
Hinshaw, was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and appears
in the April issue of Pediatrics.
Initial results after 14 months of follow-up, published in 1999, showed that
drugs alone or used with behavior therapy were the most effective treatment.
The 24-month follow-up found that drug treatment with or without behavior
therapy remained superior, though the effect diminished somewhat over time.
The researchers attributed this in part to patients stopping or starting
medication.
------------
Comment: This is good news, which will be overlooked by the anti-medication
know-nothings.
------------
ADHD, the most common neurobehavioral disorder in childhood, affects 4
percent to 12 percent of U.S. school-age children. Symptoms may include
short attention span, impulsive behavior, and difficulty focusing and
sitting still.
CHICAGO - New research bolsters evidence that stimulants like Ritalin
(news - web sites) used for attention deficit problems may stunt children's
growth, but it does not address whether the affect is permanent.
Children who took stimulants during the two-year study grew more than half
an inch less and gained over eight pounds less than those who weren't
medicated.
---------
Comment: Other studies have shown that thee is a different growth curve for
ADHD children which is not dependent on medication. Note that the authors do
not claim that growth is permanently stunted.
------------
The study involved 540 youngsters with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder, who were aged 7 to 9 at the outset of the study and were randomly
assigned to receive common treatments including medication, behavior
management and a combination of the two.
Girls generally reach their final height around age 16 and boys around age
18, so it's too soon to tell if the growth delays continued or were
permanent, the researchers said.
American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines that recommend treating ADHD with
stimulants and behavior therapy say evidence collected by following
youngsters into adulthood indicates the drugs don't cause any significant
height reduction.
------------
Comment: This is correct. There is NO study that I have ever found that says
that the long term use of medication permanently affects growth.
------------
Weight loss, however, is a known potential side effect from long-term
stimulant use.
----------
Comment: Again, generally a short term problem which can be addressed by
adopting a different eating pattern.
----------
The study, led by University of California at Berkeley researcher Stephen
Hinshaw, was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and appears
in the April issue of Pediatrics.
Initial results after 14 months of follow-up, published in 1999, showed that
drugs alone or used with behavior therapy were the most effective treatment.
The 24-month follow-up found that drug treatment with or without behavior
therapy remained superior, though the effect diminished somewhat over time.
The researchers attributed this in part to patients stopping or starting
medication.
------------
Comment: This is good news, which will be overlooked by the anti-medication
know-nothings.
------------
ADHD, the most common neurobehavioral disorder in childhood, affects 4
percent to 12 percent of U.S. school-age children. Symptoms may include
short attention span, impulsive behavior, and difficulty focusing and
sitting still.