Study Links ADHD Drugs To Growth Delays

[Guest guest]

Study Links ADHD Drugs To Growth Delays

Long-Term Effects Not Known

POSTED: 1:00 PM CDT April 4, 2004

UPDATED: 1:28 PM CDT April 4, 2004

CHICAGO -- New research bolsters evidence that stimulants like Ritalin used for

attention deficit problems may stunt children's growth, but it does not address

whether the effect 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.

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 said evidence collected by following youngsters

into adulthood indicates the drugs don't cause any significant height reduction.

Weight loss, however, is a known potential side effect from long-term stimulant

use.

The study, led by University of California at Berkeley researcher

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.

ADHD, the most common neurobehavioral disorder in childhood, affects 4 to 12

percent of U.S. school-age children. Symptoms may include short attention span,

impulsive behavior, and difficulty focusing and sitting still.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may

not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Study Links ADHD Drugs To Growth Delays

Long-Term Effects Not Known

POSTED: 1:00 PM CDT April 4, 2004

UPDATED: 1:28 PM CDT April 4, 2004

CHICAGO -- New research bolsters evidence that stimulants like Ritalin used for

attention deficit problems may stunt children's growth, but it does not address

whether the effect 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.

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 said evidence collected by following youngsters

into adulthood indicates the drugs don't cause any significant height reduction.

Weight loss, however, is a known potential side effect from long-term stimulant

use.

The study, led by University of California at Berkeley researcher

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.

ADHD, the most common neurobehavioral disorder in childhood, affects 4 to 12

percent of U.S. school-age children. Symptoms may include short attention span,

impulsive behavior, and difficulty focusing and sitting still.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may

not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Study Links ADHD Drugs To Growth Delays

Long-Term Effects Not Known

POSTED: 1:00 PM CDT April 4, 2004

UPDATED: 1:28 PM CDT April 4, 2004

CHICAGO -- New research bolsters evidence that stimulants like Ritalin used for

attention deficit problems may stunt children's growth, but it does not address

whether the effect 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.

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 said evidence collected by following youngsters

into adulthood indicates the drugs don't cause any significant height reduction.

Weight loss, however, is a known potential side effect from long-term stimulant

use.

The study, led by University of California at Berkeley researcher

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.

ADHD, the most common neurobehavioral disorder in childhood, affects 4 to 12

percent of U.S. school-age children. Symptoms may include short attention span,

impulsive behavior, and difficulty focusing and sitting still.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may

not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

Study Links ADHD Drugs To Growth Delays

Long-Term Effects Not Known

POSTED: 1:00 PM CDT April 4, 2004

UPDATED: 1:28 PM CDT April 4, 2004

CHICAGO -- New research bolsters evidence that stimulants like Ritalin used for

attention deficit problems may stunt children's growth, but it does not address

whether the effect 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.

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 said evidence collected by following youngsters

into adulthood indicates the drugs don't cause any significant height reduction.

Weight loss, however, is a known potential side effect from long-term stimulant

use.

The study, led by University of California at Berkeley researcher

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.

ADHD, the most common neurobehavioral disorder in childhood, affects 4 to 12

percent of U.S. school-age children. Symptoms may include short attention span,

impulsive behavior, and difficulty focusing and sitting still.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may

not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss