Long-Term Use of ADHD Medicines Affects Boys' Normal Growth

ADHD medication can harm the normal growth of children, particularly boys, a new study says.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood. Nearly one in 11 children in the country suffers from the disorder, which cannot be fully cured and lasts into adulthood. Children experiencing ADHD will have problems in paying attention, difficulty in controlling impulsive behaviors (acting without thinking about the consequences), and be prone to hyper activity.

A team of researchers from the University of Sydney led by Dr. Alison Poulton analyzed the impact of following ADHD medication for a long period of time on pediatric patients. They found that boys who were taking ADHD medication for more than three years grew up shorter and slimmer compared to their peers.

The small study bases its findings on 65 boys aged between 12 and 16 who were diagnosed with ADHD and were following a stimulant medication for more than three years.  

Researchers found ADHD children aged between 12 and 14 having lower weight and body mass index, and those aged between 14 and 16 having lower height and weight compared to their peers. The medication was also found affecting the pubertal development of teens aged between 14 and 16.

"Our findings suggest that stimulant medication delays the rate of maturation during puberty, including the timing of the peak growth rate, but not the onset of puberty," said Dr. Poulton, in a news release.

Concerned with the findings, researchers recommend boys to avoid high doses of the medication.

"To maintain an adequate rate of growth during puberty we recommend that boys on ADHD stimulant medication should take the lowest dose that adequately treats their ADHD," Dr. Poulton said.

Findings of the study have been published in the Medical Journal of Australia, Monday.

The findings come in the midst of an ongoing debate worldwide about the negative impact of ADHD drugs on children. The benefits and risks of providing ADHD medicines to children have been a topic of controversy for a long time. Ritalin or Methylphenidate, the stimulant commonly used to treat narcolepsy (uncontrollable sleepiness) and ADHD, has been associated with severe side effects including addiction, insomnia or trouble sleeping, nausea, dizziness, decreased appetite, headaches, bed-wetting, depression, weight loss, seizures and heart palpitations. According to drug enquirer, it has other severe side-effects, like slowing children's growth and leading to blurred vision.