Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD
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Event Related Potentials ERPs and other EEG Based Methods for Extracting Biomarkers of Brain Dysfunction: Examples from Pediatric Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD

Published on: March 12, 2020

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Adult ADHD Medications and Their Cardiovascular Implications

A Sinha1, O Lewis2, R Kumar3

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Saint Luke's University Health Network, 801 Ostrum Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.

Case Reports in Cardiology
|September 1, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Central nervous system stimulants treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) but long-term cardiovascular effects require further study. This case highlights acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk in adults with ADHD on stimulant medication.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurobiological disorder.
  • Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants are a primary treatment for ADHD.
  • Concerns exist regarding the long-term cardiovascular safety of CNS stimulants in adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cardiovascular safety of CNS stimulants in adult ADHD patients.
  • To explore the association between stimulant use and adverse cardiovascular events.
  • To present a case of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in an adult ADHD patient on Adderall.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on cardiovascular effects of CNS stimulants in adult ADHD.
  • Case report of AMI in an adult treated with mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall).

Main Results:

  • Cardiovascular effects of ADHD medications primarily include elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
  • Etiology of rare events like AMI, arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy remains less understood.
  • A unique case of AMI in an adult ADHD patient on Adderall is presented.

Conclusions:

  • Further research is needed to understand the long-term cardiovascular risks of CNS stimulants in adults with ADHD.
  • The case report underscores the potential for serious cardiovascular events, including AMI.
  • Cardiovascular safety monitoring is crucial for adults with ADHD on stimulant therapy.

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