United States: The use of amphetamine stimulants for ADHD has rampantly grown over the last few years with the circumstance of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regrettably, the study identified that the high doses of the stimulants like Adderall expose the consumer with over five folds higher risks of psychosis mania.
As reported by HealthDay, taking any prescription amphetamine in the past month made patients 62.9% more likely to develop psychosis or mania, researchers found Saturday in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
The study also reveals that those taking high doses of amphetamines were in even higher risk of having psychotic episode by 81 percent.
The greatest harm was observed in patients, who have taken 30 milligrams or more of DEX and, what is equivalent to it – 40 milligrams of Adderall, according to the study.
“Stimulant medications’ labels also do not indicate an upper dose, and our study demonstrates data evidencing dose as a factor in psychosis risk, which should be the primary consideration when prescribing stimulants,” adds Moran, a pharmacoepidemiology research scientist at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass.
“It is a relatively small risk but still potentially a very dangerous one, Moran added.
Moran pointed out that she undertook this study with focus on inpatient psychiatrists.
She and her Mclean colleagues would always meet patients who were having the first episode of psychotic disorder. Actual medical documents would show that by the recommendation of their doctors the patients had been administered high doses of stimulants.
In the study, investigators compared information on 1,388 patients at Mass General Brigham Hospital during 2005-2019 with their first episode of psychosis or mania. Researchers then compared them to over 2,700 others admitted for other psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety.
The authors discovered that those who used amphetamines stood a higher chance of experiencing psychosis and mania and the likelihood was higher when people used more of the substance.
And this link could be explained by the fact that amphetamines prompt the release of the dopamine, a brain hormone also implicated in the psychosis said the researchers.
Also, the people are taking amphetamines for ADHD shouldn’t be alarmed Moran said but they might want to talk with their doctor about the dosage they’ve been prescribed.
There are also alternative drugs to treat ADHD that don’t increase mental health risk.
As for example, this specific study found no increased risk of psychosis or mania in the prescriptions for the methylphenidate Moran noted that.
“There’s limited evidence that prescription amphetamines are more effective in the high doses and the Moran said in a. mass General Brigham news release and the Physicians should consider other medications our study found to be less risky and especially if a patient is at really a high risk for psychosis or mania.”