ADHD Stimulant Medicine Lowers Bone Density (Premium)
For decades there have been major concerns about side-effects from stimulant medications for ADHD. The list of potential reactions (see below) is staggering—and growing, as new reports have come in over the years. Unfortunately, the clear dangers of these medications has not stopped an ever-increasing number of prescriptions from being written, and for younger and younger children.
The latest publicized side effect is particularly sobering: bone loss.
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See an incredible list of potential side effects of Ritalin posted on WebMD.
Children and teenagers who take stimulant drugs to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have lower bone density than their peers who do not take these medications, a new study finds. Stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin and other brands) and amphetamine, are frequently a treatment of ADHD, a condition that affects more than 6 million children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Past research studies have found that stimulants may slow children’s rate of growth in height, but the effect of these medicines on bone health is unclear, according to the study’s lead investigator Alexis Feuer, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics and a pediatric endocrinologist at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City.
“Adolescence and young adulthood are critically important times for accruing peak bone mass—the largest and densest bone,” Feuer said. “Failure to obtain adequate bone mass by early adulthood may result in an increased fracture risk or even the development of osteoporosis later in adulthood.”
Among stimulant users, the average bone mineral content at the lumbar spine was 5.1 percent lower than in nonusers and 5.3 percent lower at the hip, the investigators reported. Bone density was 3.9 percent lower in stimulant users at the spine and 3.7 percent lower at the hip compared with nonusers.
Feuer cautioned that their study does not prove stimulant medicine is a cause of lower bone density. She said prospective research studies that evaluate bone density and bone mineral content at more than one point in time are needed to clarify the effects of stimulant medications on the skeleton of growing children.
“Our research suggests that children and adolescents who use stimulant medications may need monitoring of their bone health during and after stimulant treatment,” Feuer said.
Health care providers can monitor bone health of pediatric patients by ensuring that they maintain a healthy body weight, are engaging in weight bearing exercise and have adequate nutritional intake of calcium and vitamin D. Routine imaging with DXA scans is not recommended at this time, she noted.
Adapted from a press release April 4, 2016 from the Endocrine Society, the world’s oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions. To learn more about the Endocrine Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at www.endocrine.org.
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