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Can ADHD Medication Raise Your Blood Pressure?

5 min read  |  January 20, 2025  | 

Key Takeaways:

  • Taking a stimulant medication for ADHD is, over time, associated with increased blood pressure or hypertension.
  • Continuously elevated blood pressure can increase your risk for heart disease.
  • You can lower this cardiovascular risk by monitoring your heart health, managing risk factors and improving your overall health while taking an ADHD medication.

Medication can be a game changer for children and adults diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD can cause difficulty concentrating, impulsive behavior, relationship difficulties, challenges with organization and time management, and even mental health issues. For many with ADHD, stimulant and non-stimulant medications can help manage these symptoms and improve the brain’s executive function. But, like any medication, these pharmaceutical treatments can have side effects. Recent research shows that longtime users of some ADHD medications may have a slightly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

It’s a good time to check your ADHD medication’s effect on your heart health.

A Swedish study of 278,027 people diagnosed with ADHD showed that their long-term use of stimulant medications was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease –– particularly hypertension and arterial disease. People diagnosed with ADHD during childhood often take medication into their adult years.

Across a 14-year follow-up, this study found that each one-year use of ADHD medication use was associated with a 4% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The first 3 years of cumulative use resulted in the largest increase in risk, which stabilized after that. Similar risks were observed in children and adults.

Cardiovascular effects of ADHD medications

Different ADHD medication types have varying effects on the cardiovascular system. For example, stimulants like methylphenidate (such as Adderall, Ritalin and Delmosart) may have a more noticeable effect. Non-stimulant ADHD treatments like atomoxetine (such as Strattera) generally have less impact on heart health.

Stimulating your body for short bursts of time, like with high-intensity exercise, is normal and even healthy. This raises your heart rate and blood pressure, which go back down once you’re at rest. “With ADHD medications, however, the stimulatory effects on the sympathetic nervous system are there for as long as the medication is in effect,” says Jeffrey Goldberger, M.D., M.B.A., director of the Center for Atrial Fibrillation at the University of Miami Health System.

As a result, studies have found increased blood pressure among those who continuously take stimulant medications to treat ADHD. The good news is that these effects are minimal and occur only after taking the medication for at least three years. However, continued high blood pressure (systolic pressure above 130 mmHg) increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

How to maintain a healthy heart with ADHD treatment

As with any medication that can affect the heart, it’s a good idea to get a baseline cardiovascular screening before starting ADHD medication. 

“The lower your blood pressure is, the less likely medication will have an impact,” Dr. Goldberger says. “If you have other cardiovascular problems, ADHD medication could complicate that.” In most cases, says Dr. Goldberger, cardiovascular disease results from multiple risk factors like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and family history. ADHD medication may contribute to this risk, but it is typically not a lone risk factor.

Adults are more likely to monitor their blood pressure, but hypertension can also be a concern among children. For example, an obese 12-year-old who has borderline high blood pressure and an elevated genetic risk for cardiovascular disease may need blood pressure monitoring while taking ADHD medication. This approach to preventive care could include an ECG or other diagnostic tests to assess heart health.

In addition, regular check-ups with your child’s pediatrician or with your primary care provider should include blood pressure and heart rate monitoring while taking an ADHD stimulant medication. If you are diagnosed with a related underlying condition, be sure to take your blood pressure, cholesterol and/or diabetes management medications as prescribed.

If you or your child with ADHD experiences any concerning side effects of medication (like chest pain, dizziness or anxiety), don’t hesitate to discuss them with the prescribing doctor.

Lower your cardiovascular risk with a healthy lifestyle

You can reduce your risk of heart disease with behavior changes, such as: 

  • increasing exercise/physical activity
  • getting enough sleep
  • eating a heart healthy diet (low in saturated fat and added sugars, high in fiber)
  • quitting smoking
  • reducing or avoiding alcohol
  • managing stress

“Patients with ADHD typically derive great benefit from stimulant treatment, but you still have to acknowledge that there’s a small risk associated with that medication,” says Dr. Goldberger. If you want to continue taking a stimulant medication long term to treat the symptoms of attention deficit, weigh the benefits and risks with your provider.”


Originally written in 2024 by Wendy Margolin, a contributor for UHealth’s news service. Revised and updated in 2025 by Dana Kantrowitz.


Resources

“Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications and Long-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases” published in the JAMA Psychiatry, 2024: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2811812?utm_campaign=articlePDF&utm_medium=articlePDFlink&utm_source=articlePDF&utm_content=jamapsychiatry.2023.4294

“Hypertension in peripheral arterial disease” published in 2004 by the U.S. National Institutes of Health: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15579058/

Originally published on: February 15, 2024

Tags: ADHD medication side effects on blood pressure, Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger, heart care in Miami, managing blood pressure with ADHD meds, people with ADHD, stimulants and hypertension risk

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