Stimulants and Heart Health

[WestieHighlander]

Hi There. First post. I've recently been officially diagnosed with ADD (predominantly innatentive). The psychiatrist recommended Vyvanse. But in the past, I've been diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy due to high blood pressure. Since then I've lost a lot of weight and my blood pressure is under control. I have to see a cardiologist on Monday. I'm terrified I'm not going to be able to take a stimulant. I'm 42 years old, and finally feel like I've been diagnosed with something that makes sense. I really want to see if the most effective medication helps me.

Does anyone else have a "heart condition", specifically Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, and been rejected from taking stimulants?

Thanks so much.

[Wasted71years]

My only condition was high blood pressure, under control with medication, and being a senior citizen. I was quite worried that I would be denied the opportunity to try the first line treatment, stimulants, with the highest statistical rate of effectiveness.

In my case it was borne out with my first diagnosis and telehealth appointment, where they refused to consider stimulants because I took high blood pressure medications. After a more thorough diagnosis, I went to my GP who had no problem trying stimulants. He could monitor things at monthly appointments. I have a home pressure cuff and see only a small increase in stats so all is well so far.

You condition is more involved than what I faced, but a cardiologist should be able to clear you for stimulants. Overall the research suggests that the overall risks are lower in spite of increased cardiac risks, since auto accidents or other results of ADHD are more likely to cause harm.

[Gettingittogether]

You should call and report this condition to your prescribing psychiatrist AND go meet with a cardiologist to get full clearing. You don't want to rely on us for heart issues, as wonderful and brilliant as we are on this forum.

I had such a meeting with a cardiologist about blood pressure about a year ago. I was pleasantly surprised on how informed he was about the impact of stimulants on heart health. He knew the studies in detail. And he approved me taking the stimulant.

[STEM_Dad]

Individual experience with meds will vary. I was diagnosed with ADHD (predominantly Inattentive) at 45.

I have never had problems with high blood pressure. (Until my 30s, I had low blood pressure.)

The only heart condition that I have is a heart murmur, which was first diagnosed at are 17. I had an EKG about a 1-2 years before my ADHD diagnosis, and my doctor said the EKG showed nothing structurally wrong with my heart.

After my ADHD diagnosis, my doctor started me on Adderall XR, 10mg...no side effects, but it didn't treat my ADHD symptoms as much as I needed.

He increased my dosage to 20mg...no improvement in ADHD symptoms over the 10mg dose, but I developed tachycardia (most of the day, while the Adderall was in my system, my resting heart rate averaged 104 BPM). Lowering the dosage again, my heart rate returned to normal (testing heart rate averaging between 88 and 92 BPM...not great, but not concerning).

Adderall wasn't for me. Instead of trying a different stimulant, I convinced my doctor to try me on non-stimulant atomoxetine (generic of Strattera), and it worked twice as good at treating my ADHD symptoms as Adderall did, and no side effects (as long as I take it with food; nausea if I don't eat within 20 minutes of taking it).

Others who have tried atomoxetine have shared with me that they don't experience as much symptom improvement as I do, and they experience unpleasant side effects.

So, experience will vary from person to person. But the others who have posted before me are right:

* Talk to your doctor.

* See if you doctor or a cardiologist will clear you to try Vyvanse (which I've heard wonderful things about from many ADHDers).

* Continue taking good care of yourself, including taking your prescribed medications, checking your blood pressure and getting other tests done as often as your doctor warrants.

* Quality of life can be much improved with adequate ADHD treatment, including lower likelihood of being involved in accidents.

Good luck!

[WestieHighlander]

Thanks so much the responses. I should have said, I have a cardiology appointment on Monday, and I won't be started on a stimulant unless he clears me. So I'm not relying on info here. I just wondered if anyone had been in a similar situation and was subsequently cleared.

[Gettingittogether]

So here's the deal. I'm in my 60s, so as we get older, basically almost all of us will have heart issues. So your question is so on the money.

Glad you are going to the cardiologist. My cardiologist did say there was a risk for me (I don't have your condition) but he was said it was small. And he understood that look, one reason I was at his office on time initiating the consultation was partly because of taking medication.

ADHD impairs our basic functioning and ability to take care of ourselves. So all medication risks have to be weighed against the risk of no treatment. I also think therapy can help and coaching can help and even neurofeedback and so on can help.

[BlessedLady]

It is common for doctors to not prescribe stimulants to patients with heart conditions. But some are comfortable with it. Your b/p is no longer a issue. Congratulations on the weight loss🎉. I think a lot will depend on what the cardiologists recommends. There are other medications your doctor can prescribe that are not stimulants. There are also medications your doctor can prescribe if you have cardiac side effects from stimulants. Let us know what your doctor says

[WestieHighlander]

Just an update. I had my cardiology appointment and after weight loss, I no longer have high blood pressure OR left ventricular hypertrophy! So I should be fine to try Vyvanse.