Cardiac problems and ADHD drugs linked

WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says there may be a link between the use of ADHD drugs and sudden cardiac death in healthy children.

The federal agency said the possible connection between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder medications and children's cardiac problems was found during a study that was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. But, the FDA said that because of the study's limitations, parents should not stop a child's stimulant medication, but should discuss the situation with the prescribing healthcare professional.

The FDA said it "can not conclude that the data in the study affect the overall risk-benefit profile of stimulant medications used to treat ADHD in children."

"The FDA continues to review drug safety information for stimulant medications used to treat ADHD so that we can give health care professionals and families the most up-to-date drug safety information available," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Additional i9nformation about the study is available at:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/DrugSafetyInformationforHeathcareProfessionals/ucm165858.htm.