Hi,

I just had an echocardiogram, and it seems like I've developed an enlarged heart - although I've been borderline on that front for many years. The past year to year and a half I've been on Adderall 60mg per day - do you think that could have had anything to do with it?

I will talk to my cardiologist, but I expect that cardio Dr's are all negative on Adderall - period. I was wondering if anyone had heard of these kind of issues with Adderall or stimulants in general? Personally, I think its genetic, but am looking for other opinions. BTW - the whole thing so far is asymptomatic.

I feel for you. Although I don't have an enlarged heart I do have high blood pressure from being overweight. Adderall helps me so much and it's something I'm having a hard time dealing with at this very moment. Deciding to go off until I can get my blood pressure under control or try something like a high blood pressure medication. I hope everything works out for you.

The only thing I've ever heard is that Adderall can cause problems in patients with certain pre-existing heart conditions. Sorry I can't be more specific than that. I've never heard of anything related to an enlarged heart... but of course that doesn't mean that there isn't a connection. I'm not a physician.

Please let us know what your cardiologist says. I, too, worry about the cardiovascular risks. My father died after having suffered a heart attack and I don't want to speed up the process of developing heart problems by taking Adderall if I'm already genetically prone to it.

(btw- No, my father never took adderall or any add drugs for that matter)

Thanks people,

I'll let you know after my cardio visit tomorrow. The irony is that I'm 54, in excellent shape and have done lots of cardio workout on a regular basis for over 20 years. My cholesterol and other markers are way below average risk for someone my age.

From what I gather, there are two major causes of enlarged heart, both of which can lead to arrythmias (sp?) and congestive heart failure. The first is due to years of uncontrolled high blood pressure and similar problems. The second, which is what I believe I have is a genetic issue regarding overproduction of one of the myosin chains used in heart muscle production.

Short of some major procalamation that continuing Adderall (even at lower doses) will lead to an early death - I will probably continue. I am very adamant about quality of life vs. longevity. I enjoy being physically active and mentally alert and focused. Anything less than that is less than living. In general, I do not act like the the average, sedentary 54 year old guy - who zones out on life with a major focus on getting the bowl of chips in front of the TV - and am not about to start now.

Nocturnal, high blood pressure and being overweight can give you problems. If it were me, I would work on thtose issues on the long term and try to find a way to include adderall in my routine. I have tried beta blockers - and found that while they can cause weight gain, but can lower blood pressure. Adderall and exercise will cause weight loss - probably more than the gain caused by a beta blocker. Exercise will also lower your blood pressure if done on a regular basis. Mine (at 54) is still in the 125/75 range - and thats with 60mg of adderall per day.

Princess, I wouldn't be worried about cardiovascular risks if you are basically healthy, keep a healthy weight, and exercise regularly. My father died from severe ischemic heart disease at 54 (yes, my age!) - but I show no signs of any of those problems - and credit exercise and good diet over these past 20 years. Unfortunaely there are risks of doing most everything - and the statistics of these risks varies on a yearly basis.

On thing I have learned in all my medical travels is that doctors are dogmatic at their best. Each one tends to think that what they do is "the" way to think about and do things. Unfortunately, this is generally not the case and the truth varies between a consensus of medical opinion - mixed with equal parts of your own interpretations and gut feelings about all the bull****. I have seen too many good people become terribly incapacitated (or dead) by listening to a single medical professional who declared that they "knew all the answers". The real answers lie within our own ability to distill all this infomation and apply it to our lives as WE see fit. If I get sick or die from my miscalulation, at least it will be my mistake - and not that of someone with very little invested in the situation. A case in point, my father died suddenly as he was abruptly removed from a medication that should have been withdrawn slowly. This Dr's decision affected my father's life - and affected the Dr. not at all (I don't think he ever even was informed of what had happened). Now, 40 years after the fact, it is a known fact that discontinuation of this medication is to be done slowly with careful monitoring.

We think we are more evolved than the days of leeches and the like, but we really are not. Sorry to ramble on - but I got on a roll and think what i've written might help someone some day.

Nocturnal, high blood pressure and being overweight can give you problems. Okay before I realized you were talking to the member who's screenname is "Nocturnal," I thought you were saying that BEING NOCTURNAL along with high bp and overweight could give you problems.

HAHAHAHAHAHAA. I was like, "What?!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" :D

I read one case with a child on Ritalin who died from an enlarged heart but he had some other condition that Ritalin just intensified

Okay before I realized you were talking to the member who's screenname is "Nocturnal," I thought you were saying that BEING NOCTURNAL along with high bp and overweight could give you problems.

HAHAHAHAHAHAA. I was like, "What?!! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!" :DI am nocturnal BTW! I usually get up around 10:30 pacific time and go to bed by 4:00am. But no ... its not a problem! Thanks.

Just an interesting follow up on all of this. I finally saw my cardiologist last week. He said that my heart was only minimally enlarged - most likely hereditary and nothing to worry about.

I asked him about using adderall - someone older like myself. He said he saw no problem using Adderall - at least in my case where I am very physically fit and conscientious. I told him that I had been on 60mg and he said (for me) that it was OK and he saw no reason why adderall would harm my heart at all.

Its nice heraing all this from a cardiologist. A psycho-doc is of course going to say that stimulants are safe, etc. - thats what they hand out for a living. But when a cardiologist tells me that he thinks it would be OK for me to take them - now that carries some weight. After all - it isn't really his issue whether I take them or not. So it was a very objective opinion.

Just a tidbit of news that might ease the fears of those out there (like me) who have worried about the effects of stimulants on organ systems.

Just an interesting follow up on all of this. I finally saw my cardiologist last week. He said that my heart was only minimally enlarged - most likely hereditary and nothing to worry about.

I asked him about using adderall - someone older like myself. He said he saw no problem using Adderall - at least in my case where I am very physically fit and conscientious. I told him that I had been on 60mg and he said (for me) that it was OK and he saw no reason why adderall would harm my heart at all.

Its nice heraing all this from a cardiologist. A psycho-doc is of course going to say that stimulants are safe, etc. - thats what they hand out for a living. But when a cardiologist tells me that he thinks it would be OK for me to take them - now that carries some weight. After all - it isn't really his issue whether I take them or not. So it was a very objective opinion.

Just a tidbit of news that might ease the fears of those out there (like me) who have worried about the effects of stimulants on organ systems.
that sounds great... I've been reading quite a bit of your posts - thank you for taking the time to write. Just thought I should let you know:o