Many ADHD Medications Lead to Increases in Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, April 21, 2025 -- Many pharmacological treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) lead to increases in hemodynamic signs, including blood pressure and pulse, according to a review published in the May issue of The Lancet Psychiatry.
Luis C. Farhat, Ph.D., from the Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil, and colleagues compared the effects of pharmacological treatments for ADHD on hemodynamic signs and electrocardiographic parameters in children, adolescents, and adults. Published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing amphetamines, atomoxetine, bupropion, clonidine, guanfacine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, modafinil, or viloxazine -- either against each other or against placebo -- were identified; 101 RCTs with short-term follow-up were included, encompassing 22,257 participants.
The researchers found that in children and adolescents, adults, or both, amphetamines, atomoxetine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, and viloxazine led to increases in hemodynamic signs. Among children and adolescents, the mean increase against placebo varied from 1.07 mm Hg with atomoxetine to 1.81 mm Hg with methylphenidate for systolic blood pressure; from 1.93 mm Hg with amphetamines to 2.42 mm Hg with methylphenidate for diastolic blood pressure; and from 2.79 beats per minute (bpm) with viloxazine to 5.58 bpm with atomoxetine for pulse. Among adults, the mean increase against placebo ranged from 1.66 mm Hg with methylphenidate to 2.3 mm Hg with amphetamines for systolic blood pressure; from 1.6 mm Hg with methylphenidate to 3.07 mm Hg with lisdexamfetamine for diastolic blood pressure; and from 4.37 bpm with methylphenidate to 5.8 bpm with viloxazine for pulse. In children and adolescents, and in adults, guanfacine was associated with decrements in hemodynamic signs.
"Our findings confirmed that amphetamines, atomoxetine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, and viloxazine may lead to short-term increments in heart rate, blood pressure, or both in children and adolescents, adults, or both age groups," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2025
Read this next
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists May Improve Outcomes in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 -- For patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) treatment is associated with improved...
Insomnia Plays a Role in Quality of Life for Patients With ADHD
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 -- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms are associated with lower quality of life (QoL) in adults, and this association is only partially...
ENDO: Primary Aldosteronism Screening Recommended for All With Hypertension
FRIDAY, July 18, 2025 -- All individuals with hypertension should be screened for primary aldosteronism (PA), according to a clinical practice guideline issued by the Endocrine...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.