ADHD Drugs Negatively Affect Bone Density
Recent research determined the medications Modafinil, Atomoxetine, and Guanfacine negatively impact bones, now what?
Here’s something to cause you to pause. A recent study investigated the effect of Modafinil, Atomoxetine, and Guanfacine on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts and on their cell functions, including migration. The researchers determined that the 3 medications commonly used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) negatively affect hMSC differentiation to bone-forming osteoblasts and cell migration through different intracellular pathways.
Ouch. What does all that mean?
With an increasing number of children and adolescents receiving a diagnosis of ADHD, the potentially high number of patients with controlled or uncontrolled use of psychostimulants increases the impact of possible adverse effects. Previous research has shown that the early ADHD drug methylphenidate influences bone metabolism negatively by causing a growth reduction of 1.38 cm/year and decreasing the mineral density of bone tissue.
Think about that for a second.
My own journey through western medicine has been coloured with these types of issues. One pill addresses a specific complaint. But, it’s side effects are significant, so another pill is prescribed to deal with those effects. My own experience has me now looking out for these types of studies and asking questions about the effects and side effects of any un-natural chemical that I consume.
Additionally, as a Track/Field coach, I’m now looking at this from an injury standpoint. If a student-athlete is on one of these medicines and breaks a bone or has an injury to their connective tissues, what factor (if any) did the medicine play in potentially weakening the site? With the popularity of these types of medicines, how can I not be thinking this way?
What do you think? How do you feel about the issue? Let me know in the comments below.
I believe we could do SO much more to help people get through anxious times without medications. For now, just a custom of only 3-4 hours deliberate projects in a day, balance off time and work time, and if people are "work", then plan long breaks from them also. Pacing. And we need to get more people onto the same or related pages in terms of human goals, not all divided and battling each other. Again, all work proceeding with pauses and break time, sometimes fail, rest, then get up again.