Cardiovascular Risks of ADHD Medications

The podcast episode discusses a meta-analysis conducted on nearly 4 million children, adolescents, and adults to determine the cardiovascular risks associated with medications used to treat ADHD. The study found no significant associations between stimulant or non-stimulant medications for ADHD and cerebrovascular disease in patients without preexisting conditions. However, patients with preexisting cardiovascular disease showed a higher risk of cardiovascular incidents. Although these findings were not statistically significant, caution should be exercised when prescribing ADHD medications to patients with preexisting cardiovascular conditions. It is recommended to obtain vital signs, blood pressure, and pulse at baseline and during follow-up visits, and consider an electrocardiogram and consultation with a cardiologist before starting treatment.