Nearly 1 in 9 children have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and most take prescription stimulant drugs for years to calm their behaviors and help them focus in school. While drug manufacturer clinical trials clearly demonstrate that these drugs — which include methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) — work to alleviate symptoms, very few were designed to investigate the long-term safety of these drugs, according to a new study conducted by Boston Children’s Hospital researchers. Florence Bourgeois, assistant professor of pediatrics, is the lead author of the study. Kenneth Mandl, professor of pediatrics, is a coauthor.
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