A growing number of individuals taking medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may be at risk of serious health complications, including sudden death, due to a lack of mandatory heart checks before treatment begins. This concern is highlighted by a leading charity as the number of people, particularly adults, on ADHD medication has reached record highs.
The stimulant tablets used to treat ADHD work by increasing heart rate and blood pressure. While widely prescribed, these medications can pose significant dangers to individuals with undiagnosed heart defects, which affect approximately one in 300 people. The charity Cardiac Risk In The Young emphasizes that many patients are unaware of underlying heart conditions until a critical event occurs.
This issue has gained attention following an inquest into the death of Jacob Wooderson, a 28-year-old finance worker. Wooderson died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome shortly after his dosage of Elvanse, a lisdexamfetamine-based stimulant, was increased. Elvanse was listed as a cause of his death. He had been diagnosed with ADHD only six months prior to his passing.
In the wake of Wooderson's death, a coroner called for a government inquiry into the safety of ADHD medications, which are increasingly prescribed within the UK's National Health Service (NHS). However, no such inquiry has been initiated.
Currently, NHS guidelines do not mandate heart screenings for all ADHD patients before they start medication. While a cardiovascular assessment including checks on heart rate and blood pressure is required, an electrocardiogram (ECG) – a test that records the heart's electrical activity – is not, unless there is a known family history of heart issues or pre-existing heart conditions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body responsible for NHS guidelines, maintains that an ECG is not universally necessary.
Dr. Steven Cox, chief executive of Cardiac Risk In The Young, advocates for all ADHD patients to be offered an ECG before commencing treatment. He stated that offering this test is a "sensible and easily achievable policy" that could prevent adverse outcomes for those with undiagnosed heart defects.
ADHD, characterized by difficulties with concentration and restlessness, was once considered a rare condition primarily affecting children. However, recent statistics indicate a significant rise in diagnoses, with approximately 750,000 children and 1.5 million adults now diagnosed with the disorder in the UK. The number of women on ADHD medication has increased twentyfold in the past 15 years, and the number of men has risen fifteenfold.
Methylphenidate, marketed under various brand names like Ritalin and Concerta, is among the most commonly prescribed ADHD medications. Prescriptions for this stimulant have increased across all age groups, from young children to older adults. Research has also raised questions about the safety of these drugs, with some experts noting rare instances of psychosis triggered by the medication. Furthermore, a 2018 US study suggested a potential link between ADHD medications and an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease.