Hey all!

I'm a pharmacy student just recently diagnosed with ADD, and I chose to write a paper this semester discussing the short and long term cardiovascular effects of stimulants (blood pressure, pulse, enlargement of the heart).

Basically, what I found was that there were very few trials looking at this issue. I found a few trials looking at blood pressure in individuals on a stimulant, then off of it, etc. I could only find 1 trial that lasted more than 2 years, and it studied the effects in narcoleptics.

I am just curious if anyone (especially adults) has had cardiovascular effects. Do the meds (particularly amphetamines and methylphenidate) change your pulse or blood pressure? If there are any adults that have been on these medications long term, what kind of effects have you had?

Any information you could offer would be great. I am curious not only for my paper, but myself as well. Fast heart rate and high blood pressure (which can be associated with stimulant use) can lead to severe consequences over time, so has anyone experienced these kinds of effects? Thanks!

~KGro

I haven't noticed any difference on my meds. I typically register somewhere between 115/75 and 130/90 no matter what, unless I am really stressed.

My BP has dropped on stimulants. My all time high was 160/100 this was partially due to my anxiety over my blood pressure, which I was afraid would exclude me from stimulants. Normally my BP was around 145/90 or so. I'm a big guy - at that time 285lbs, 5' 11". Once I got my first scrip, my pressure dropped back to where it was before and now that I have lost some weight and am excersizing regularly (now 245 lbs and fit!) my BP is more like 135/80.
As far as heart rate goes, I find that the dexedrine I take raises my HR by about 20BPM. I am basing this on a couple of experiments I've done with my heart rate monitor (which I use for tracking workouts). I don't notice a difference in my excersizing heart rate however - it's not 20 BPM faster then, it's about the same.

I'm so much fitter than I was before using dex that I have little perspective! :D

My resting pulse is 60/bpm now which is outstanding for me. It used to be 80/bpm. I don't know what my blood pressure is as I can never remember when they tell me. My doctor seemed to think it was good at any rate.
Cheers! Ian.

I too have found the medication gives me the motivation to do more .. particularly with respect to exercise .. and so my fitness improved on treatment .. with obvious ramifications in on hr/bp.
If anything I became a little silly .. and sometimes had 3 exercise sessions per day.

SB.

When I started on Adderrall, I noticed an INCREASE in my BP, but a decrease in overall heartrate. I used to have BP of 90/60 or 100/70 mmHg and a higher heartrate 90bpm, but now am at 120/80 mmHg and 68-72bpm. I used to notice my heartrate would zoom when I drank a lot of caffeine, with a low BP. I assumed my BP was compensating for the heartrate to maintain homeostasis. I also take Effexor, but these effects occurred specifically when Adderall was taken. On a side note, I noticed the Effexor specifically effected my temperature regulation. I used to ALWAYS be cold...cold fingers,toes,decreased circulation in toes if shoes on and not moving around,cold nose, when the house was 72 degrees! When I started on the Effexor I had more "warm responses", having times when I was warm overall (my feet and hands continue to have problems, but am assuming that is because they are small vessels vs. larger ones, and can't change long term effects from years past). My husband said before that, he could count on one hand the number of times I was warm. I also noticed I became cold again when I had to stop the Effexor for 3 months, and the effects came back when I restarted the medication. Hope this helps.

My usual BP used to be between 100/60 and 120/80, now it's usually around 120/85, so it has gotten higher, particularly the bottom number. Heart rate is faster when I stand up or sit up too fast. I've been on different variations of methylphenidate since April of 2004. I'm also on wellbutrin xl and cymbalta. Good luck with your report.

Cyndi