Stimulants for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be risky in patients with long-QT syndrome (LQTS). Although LQTS may be relatively rare, with one recent study estimating the prevalence at about 1 in 2,000 prescriptions for ADHD medications are anything but, with more than 3.5 million children receiving them. A study published recently in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology found a 62% cumulative probability of cardiac events in patients with LQTS receiving stimulants for ADHD treatment, compared to 28% in the control group. The risk was even greater with long-term use and in males.
Published August 18, 2015
