ADHD Drugs May Slow Growth...

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http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=518225

ADHD Drugs May Slow Growth

While beneficial, stimulant medications may affect height -- at least

temporarily

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, April 5 (HealthDayNews) -- Stimulant medications used to calm

children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may have an

unexpected side effect -- slightly slower growth.

In a study appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics, researchers report

that after two years of follow-up, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD

are still effective, but they may slow growth in height a bit.

" Stimulant medications are really extremely safe medications with very few

side effects, " said one of the study's authors, Swanson, a

psychologist and professor of pediatrics at the University of California,

Irvine. " I don't think this is necessarily a cause for great alarm in

parents. The effect was rather modest, only about a centimeter less over a

year. "

Swanson also noted that many questions remain unanswered. For example,

researchers don't know if children on ADHD medications will have a growth

rebound later. He added that many children with ADHD are larger than average

for their age, so the slight growth reduction for those on medication may

just put them back into the normal height range.

It's estimated that 2 million children in the United States have ADHD,

according to the National Institute of Mental Health. That translates to

almost one child with ADHD in every classroom. Symptoms include an inability

to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

For the current study, Swanson and his colleagues followed up with 540

children with ADHD who had participated in an earlier randomized clinical

trial. The trial compared the use of the stimulant medication Ritalin to

behavioral therapy, a combination of Ritalin and behavioral therapy, or no

treatment.

Children in the study were recruited from six sites across the United States

and one in Canada. All were between 7 and 9 years old at the start of the

study.

The first study lasted 14 months, and researchers found that the children

who received medication or medication in conjunction with behavioral therapy

had fewer symptoms than those who received no medication. Children on

medication also grew slightly less than their non-medicated peers. Children

on medication alone gained 4.85 centimeters, while those on combination

therapy grew 4.25 centimeters. Kids receiving behavioral therapy grew an

average of 6.19 centimeters, while a " control " group of children grew 5.68

centimeters.

After 24 months, the researchers followed up with the study participants and

found that symptom reduction difference in the medication and non-medication

groups had dropped by 50 percent.

Swanson said the researchers suspected this change was due to children in

the medication group no longer taking their medication, or because those in

the non-medication group may have started taking medication. That's because

the researchers only supervised treatment for the first 14 months. After

that, treatment decisions were made by the parents and the children's

physicians.

For the new study, the researchers re-interviewed the children and parents

to assess what was truly happening in treatment. With the new information,

Swanson said they found that both the effects of medication and the effects

of behavioral therapy were actually fairly consistent throughout the 24

months. They also confirmed that children on medication showed a slight

reduction in height, but Swanson said the effect was less pronounced at 24

months. He said those assigned to medication grew about a centimeter less

per year than those not on medication.

Dr. Ernest Krug, medical director of Beaumont Hospital's Center for Human

Development in Royal Oak, Mich., said, " The issue of growth suppression is

something we always monitor in kids on medication. This study reinforces the

importance of careful follow-up of children when they're on medication. It's

a good idea for them to be seen every three to four months. "

With any medication, parents should be convinced that the drug is providing

beneficial effects for their children without causing unreasonable side

effects, Krug said

_________________________________________________________________

Persistent heartburn? Check out Digestive Health & Wellness for information

and advice. http://gerd.msn.com/default.asp

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=518225

ADHD Drugs May Slow Growth

While beneficial, stimulant medications may affect height -- at least

temporarily

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, April 5 (HealthDayNews) -- Stimulant medications used to calm

children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may have an

unexpected side effect -- slightly slower growth.

In a study appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics, researchers report

that after two years of follow-up, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD

are still effective, but they may slow growth in height a bit.

" Stimulant medications are really extremely safe medications with very few

side effects, " said one of the study's authors, Swanson, a

psychologist and professor of pediatrics at the University of California,

Irvine. " I don't think this is necessarily a cause for great alarm in

parents. The effect was rather modest, only about a centimeter less over a

year. "

Swanson also noted that many questions remain unanswered. For example,

researchers don't know if children on ADHD medications will have a growth

rebound later. He added that many children with ADHD are larger than average

for their age, so the slight growth reduction for those on medication may

just put them back into the normal height range.

It's estimated that 2 million children in the United States have ADHD,

according to the National Institute of Mental Health. That translates to

almost one child with ADHD in every classroom. Symptoms include an inability

to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

For the current study, Swanson and his colleagues followed up with 540

children with ADHD who had participated in an earlier randomized clinical

trial. The trial compared the use of the stimulant medication Ritalin to

behavioral therapy, a combination of Ritalin and behavioral therapy, or no

treatment.

Children in the study were recruited from six sites across the United States

and one in Canada. All were between 7 and 9 years old at the start of the

study.

The first study lasted 14 months, and researchers found that the children

who received medication or medication in conjunction with behavioral therapy

had fewer symptoms than those who received no medication. Children on

medication also grew slightly less than their non-medicated peers. Children

on medication alone gained 4.85 centimeters, while those on combination

therapy grew 4.25 centimeters. Kids receiving behavioral therapy grew an

average of 6.19 centimeters, while a " control " group of children grew 5.68

centimeters.

After 24 months, the researchers followed up with the study participants and

found that symptom reduction difference in the medication and non-medication

groups had dropped by 50 percent.

Swanson said the researchers suspected this change was due to children in

the medication group no longer taking their medication, or because those in

the non-medication group may have started taking medication. That's because

the researchers only supervised treatment for the first 14 months. After

that, treatment decisions were made by the parents and the children's

physicians.

For the new study, the researchers re-interviewed the children and parents

to assess what was truly happening in treatment. With the new information,

Swanson said they found that both the effects of medication and the effects

of behavioral therapy were actually fairly consistent throughout the 24

months. They also confirmed that children on medication showed a slight

reduction in height, but Swanson said the effect was less pronounced at 24

months. He said those assigned to medication grew about a centimeter less

per year than those not on medication.

Dr. Ernest Krug, medical director of Beaumont Hospital's Center for Human

Development in Royal Oak, Mich., said, " The issue of growth suppression is

something we always monitor in kids on medication. This study reinforces the

importance of careful follow-up of children when they're on medication. It's

a good idea for them to be seen every three to four months. "

With any medication, parents should be convinced that the drug is providing

beneficial effects for their children without causing unreasonable side

effects, Krug said

_________________________________________________________________

Persistent heartburn? Check out Digestive Health & Wellness for information

and advice. http://gerd.msn.com/default.asp

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=518225

ADHD Drugs May Slow Growth

While beneficial, stimulant medications may affect height -- at least

temporarily

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, April 5 (HealthDayNews) -- Stimulant medications used to calm

children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may have an

unexpected side effect -- slightly slower growth.

In a study appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics, researchers report

that after two years of follow-up, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD

are still effective, but they may slow growth in height a bit.

" Stimulant medications are really extremely safe medications with very few

side effects, " said one of the study's authors, Swanson, a

psychologist and professor of pediatrics at the University of California,

Irvine. " I don't think this is necessarily a cause for great alarm in

parents. The effect was rather modest, only about a centimeter less over a

year. "

Swanson also noted that many questions remain unanswered. For example,

researchers don't know if children on ADHD medications will have a growth

rebound later. He added that many children with ADHD are larger than average

for their age, so the slight growth reduction for those on medication may

just put them back into the normal height range.

It's estimated that 2 million children in the United States have ADHD,

according to the National Institute of Mental Health. That translates to

almost one child with ADHD in every classroom. Symptoms include an inability

to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

For the current study, Swanson and his colleagues followed up with 540

children with ADHD who had participated in an earlier randomized clinical

trial. The trial compared the use of the stimulant medication Ritalin to

behavioral therapy, a combination of Ritalin and behavioral therapy, or no

treatment.

Children in the study were recruited from six sites across the United States

and one in Canada. All were between 7 and 9 years old at the start of the

study.

The first study lasted 14 months, and researchers found that the children

who received medication or medication in conjunction with behavioral therapy

had fewer symptoms than those who received no medication. Children on

medication also grew slightly less than their non-medicated peers. Children

on medication alone gained 4.85 centimeters, while those on combination

therapy grew 4.25 centimeters. Kids receiving behavioral therapy grew an

average of 6.19 centimeters, while a " control " group of children grew 5.68

centimeters.

After 24 months, the researchers followed up with the study participants and

found that symptom reduction difference in the medication and non-medication

groups had dropped by 50 percent.

Swanson said the researchers suspected this change was due to children in

the medication group no longer taking their medication, or because those in

the non-medication group may have started taking medication. That's because

the researchers only supervised treatment for the first 14 months. After

that, treatment decisions were made by the parents and the children's

physicians.

For the new study, the researchers re-interviewed the children and parents

to assess what was truly happening in treatment. With the new information,

Swanson said they found that both the effects of medication and the effects

of behavioral therapy were actually fairly consistent throughout the 24

months. They also confirmed that children on medication showed a slight

reduction in height, but Swanson said the effect was less pronounced at 24

months. He said those assigned to medication grew about a centimeter less

per year than those not on medication.

Dr. Ernest Krug, medical director of Beaumont Hospital's Center for Human

Development in Royal Oak, Mich., said, " The issue of growth suppression is

something we always monitor in kids on medication. This study reinforces the

importance of careful follow-up of children when they're on medication. It's

a good idea for them to be seen every three to four months. "

With any medication, parents should be convinced that the drug is providing

beneficial effects for their children without causing unreasonable side

effects, Krug said

_________________________________________________________________

Persistent heartburn? Check out Digestive Health & Wellness for information

and advice. http://gerd.msn.com/default.asp

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=518225

ADHD Drugs May Slow Growth

While beneficial, stimulant medications may affect height -- at least

temporarily

By Serena Gordon

HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, April 5 (HealthDayNews) -- Stimulant medications used to calm

children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may have an

unexpected side effect -- slightly slower growth.

In a study appearing in the April issue of Pediatrics, researchers report

that after two years of follow-up, stimulant medications used to treat ADHD

are still effective, but they may slow growth in height a bit.

" Stimulant medications are really extremely safe medications with very few

side effects, " said one of the study's authors, Swanson, a

psychologist and professor of pediatrics at the University of California,

Irvine. " I don't think this is necessarily a cause for great alarm in

parents. The effect was rather modest, only about a centimeter less over a

year. "

Swanson also noted that many questions remain unanswered. For example,

researchers don't know if children on ADHD medications will have a growth

rebound later. He added that many children with ADHD are larger than average

for their age, so the slight growth reduction for those on medication may

just put them back into the normal height range.

It's estimated that 2 million children in the United States have ADHD,

according to the National Institute of Mental Health. That translates to

almost one child with ADHD in every classroom. Symptoms include an inability

to focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

For the current study, Swanson and his colleagues followed up with 540

children with ADHD who had participated in an earlier randomized clinical

trial. The trial compared the use of the stimulant medication Ritalin to

behavioral therapy, a combination of Ritalin and behavioral therapy, or no

treatment.

Children in the study were recruited from six sites across the United States

and one in Canada. All were between 7 and 9 years old at the start of the

study.

The first study lasted 14 months, and researchers found that the children

who received medication or medication in conjunction with behavioral therapy

had fewer symptoms than those who received no medication. Children on

medication also grew slightly less than their non-medicated peers. Children

on medication alone gained 4.85 centimeters, while those on combination

therapy grew 4.25 centimeters. Kids receiving behavioral therapy grew an

average of 6.19 centimeters, while a " control " group of children grew 5.68

centimeters.

After 24 months, the researchers followed up with the study participants and

found that symptom reduction difference in the medication and non-medication

groups had dropped by 50 percent.

Swanson said the researchers suspected this change was due to children in

the medication group no longer taking their medication, or because those in

the non-medication group may have started taking medication. That's because

the researchers only supervised treatment for the first 14 months. After

that, treatment decisions were made by the parents and the children's

physicians.

For the new study, the researchers re-interviewed the children and parents

to assess what was truly happening in treatment. With the new information,

Swanson said they found that both the effects of medication and the effects

of behavioral therapy were actually fairly consistent throughout the 24

months. They also confirmed that children on medication showed a slight

reduction in height, but Swanson said the effect was less pronounced at 24

months. He said those assigned to medication grew about a centimeter less

per year than those not on medication.

Dr. Ernest Krug, medical director of Beaumont Hospital's Center for Human

Development in Royal Oak, Mich., said, " The issue of growth suppression is

something we always monitor in kids on medication. This study reinforces the

importance of careful follow-up of children when they're on medication. It's

a good idea for them to be seen every three to four months. "

With any medication, parents should be convinced that the drug is providing

beneficial effects for their children without causing unreasonable side

effects, Krug said

_________________________________________________________________

Persistent heartburn? Check out Digestive Health & Wellness for information

and advice. http://gerd.msn.com/default.asp