CClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT00372359Updated Sep 20, 2012

Adverse Effect of Prolonged Methylphenidate Treatment on Cardiac Functions

An observational study in Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity, Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, sponsored by Ornit Cohen. Status unknown at 1 site in Israel. Open to participants aged 8 Years to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2012-09-20.

Sponsored by Ornit Cohen · Observational

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Sep 2012), so the status shown — last known as Recruiting — may be out of date.
Study type
Observational
Model
Case-only
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
50
Ages
8 Years to 18 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to find out whether prolonged treatment with methylphenidate has any adverse effect on cardiac functions and measurements.

Read the detailed description

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurobehavioral condition of childhood, with symptoms consisting of inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The diagnosis relies on subjective criteria since there is no objective test for ADHD. Stimulants are the recommended treatment, during the last 2 decades both the rate of its use has increased, and the age for starting treatment has decreased. Adverse side effects have been few, none of which were serious.

Recently, regulators of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have been told on forty deaths among patients who took stimulants through 2003. Accordingly, a subcommittee of the FDA recommended that prescription drugs to treat ADHD should be accompanied by strong 'black-box' warnings that they may increase the risk of heart problems in some patients.

To date, there does not appear to have been any study that has evaluated cardiac functions in these patients. In this study we will evaluate the possible long term effect of methylphenidate on cardiac functions, as to provide more knowledgeable basis for decisions on the treatment of ADHD patients with methylphenidate.

Children age 8-18 years who were treated on methylphenidate for more then five years will be allocated in outpatient clinics. Complete EKG and echocardiographic examinations will be performed and cardiac functions, left ventricular mass and left ventricular muscle width will be compared to the normal range of values. The results will give us, for the first time, a basis to support or reject the causative relationship between these drugs and severe cardiac problems.

02

Conditions studied

  • Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity
  • Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Attention Deficit Disorders With Hyperactivity
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders

Keywords

  • Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Hyperactivity
  • Methylphenidate
03

In context

Hyperkinesis

729 studies on the registry are indexed under Hyperkinesis; 25 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 134 across 122 observational studies indexed under Hyperkinesis.

Browse Hyperkinesis studies →

Lead sponsor

Ornit Cohen is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
8 Years to 18 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Children aged 8-18 that are at least 5 years on methylphenidates

Inclusion criteria

Children with ADHD aged 8-18 years who are taking methylphenydate (Ritalin©, Ritalin SR©, Ritalin LA©) for more than 5 years.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Children with any known heart disease or anomaly. Children whose ADHD is part of a syndrome or are mentally retarded. Children that are on any other chronic medications.

05

Study design

Observational model
Case-only
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)
06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Pediatric Day Care Center, The Barzilai Medical Center
    Ashkelon, 78306, Israel
    • Shraga Aviner, MD, PhD · Contact · aviners@barzi.health.gov.il · 972 8 674 5165
    • Olga Kissilgof, MD · Contact · 972 8 674 5261
    • Shraga Aviner, MD, PhD · Principal investigator
    • Olga Kissilgof, MD · Sub investigator
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Cohen AL, Jhung MA, Budnitz DS. Stimulant medications and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. N Engl J Med. 2006 May 25;354(21):2294-5. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc060860. No abstract available. PubMed 16723627 ↗
  • Wooltorton E. Medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: cardiovascular concerns. CMAJ. 2006 Jul 4;175(1):29. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.060718. Epub 2006 Jun 13. No abstract available. PubMed 16772535 ↗
  • Nissen SE. ADHD drugs and cardiovascular risk. N Engl J Med. 2006 Apr 6;354(14):1445-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp068049. Epub 2006 Mar 20. No abstract available. PubMed 16549404 ↗
  • Debate over warnings for ADHD stimulants. Child Health Alert. 2006 Apr;24:1. No abstract available. PubMed 16673500 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 20, 2012, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00372359
Lead sponsor
Ornit Cohen
Responsible party
Ornit Cohen (r&d unit, Barzilai Medical Center) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Sep 6, 2006
Start date
Aug 2006
Completion
Dec 2012 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 20, 2012

Study contacts

Shraga Aviner, MD, PhD
Contact
aviners@barzi.health.govb.il
972 3 674 5165
Olga Kissilgof, MD
Contact
972 8 674 5261
Shraga Aviner, MD, PhD
principal investigator · The Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is status unknown, as verified in Sep 2012. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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