24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in male children receiving stimulant therapy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cardiac indices are altered as assessed by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in male children receiving either chronic methylphenidate or dextroamphetamine/levoamphetamine (Adderall) therapy. METHODS: Boys 7–11 years old who were receiving methylphen...

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Published in:The Annals of pharmacotherapy 2002-07, Vol.36 (7), p.1142-1149
Main Authors: Stowe, CD, Gardner, SF, Gist, CC, Schulz, EG, Wells, TG
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amphetamines - pharmacology
Amphetamines - therapeutic use
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Blood Pressure - drug effects
Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory
Central Nervous System Stimulants - administration & dosage
Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use
Child
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment
Heart Rate - drug effects
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Methylphenidate - pharmacology
Methylphenidate - therapeutic use
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Sleep
Toxicity: cardiovascular system
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Summary:OBJECTIVE: To determine whether cardiac indices are altered as assessed by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in male children receiving either chronic methylphenidate or dextroamphetamine/levoamphetamine (Adderall) therapy. METHODS: Boys 7–11 years old who were receiving methylphenidate or Adderall for a minimum of 2 months were asked to participate. Subjects wore ambulatory blood pressure monitors for 24-hour periods both off and on stimulant therapy. RESULTS: Subjects (n = 17; 8 methylphenidate, 9 Adderall) were well matched. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate differed between off and on stimulant therapy (p < 0.05). DBP load calculated from ABPM reference data was increased significantly (9.0% ± 5.6% on and 4.8% ± 4.5% off therapy; p < 0.05) while subjects were taking Adderall. There was a trend toward a greater elevation in blood pressure load during awake hours and a more pronounced decrease during the asleep hours for periods on compared with off-stimulant therapy. This trend resulted in significant (p < 0.05) nocturnal dipping on-stimulant phases compared with off-stimulant therapy for both SBP and DBP (Adderall) and SBP (methylphenidate). Two subjects (1 Adderall, 1 methylphenidate) met the criteria to be considered hypertensive based both on mean awake and 24-hour blood pressure load assessments during their on-treatment period. One additional subject receiving Adderall therapy met the criteria to be considered hypertensive based on blood pressure load criteria while off therapy only. Positive correlation coefficients (p < 0.05) were found when comparing stimulant dose (mg/kg) with the percent change of mean SBP, DBP, and heart rate between off and on therapy (r = 0.56, 0.61, and 0.58, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest that blood pressure and heart rate appear to be altered in male patients while receiving stimulant therapy for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Blood pressure and heart rate screening and monitoring during stimulant therapy to determine whether alterations become clinically significant is encouraged.
ISSN:1060-0280
1542-6270
DOI:10.1345/aph.1A367