Should Hyper Kids Get ECG Before Getting ADHD Medicine?

Electrocardiogram screening to check for heart problems in hyperactive children before prescribing stimulant medications may help identify those at risk, but is only borderline cost-effective compared with the current practice of taking a patient history and doing a physical examination, a new study shows.

Stimulant medications — such as Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall — that are used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder boost pulse rate and may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death in children with some types of heart conditions.

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