Ill make this very short:

Do the stimulants tax the cardio vascular system in the long run?

I notice that the heart rate stays much higher at rest than before.

I took stems from 6-16 and not at 36 I have returned to them.

Thanks, I just wondered cause my doctor said you have to think at some point about your heart etc. when being older and on stimulants (other than coffee).

He isn't against them at all. His son is one them. HE just feels that it taxes the heart etc. in older adults.

Over a long period of time, I think it probably does....

GREAT, I obsess a lot and side effects and ill effects from medications tend to make me stop them even if they work well.

Grrrr.

I can't be comfortably happy knowing I might be shortening my life.

When you say tax, do you mean lesson the years you live or just cause it to work a little harder over the long run?

Ill make this very short:

Do the stimulants tax the cardio vascular system in the long run?

I notice that the heart rate stays much higher at rest than before.

I took stems from 6-16 and not at 36 I have returned to them.

Thanks, I just wondered cause my doctor said you have to think at some point about your heart etc. when being older and on stimulants (other than coffee).

He isn't against them at all. His son is one them. HE just feels that it taxes the heart etc. in older adults.

Like with everything else, it tends to depend on the person as to the degree in which the effects persist. While I'd agree that stimulants can be taxing to your heart, so can every day stress (probably moreso).

I posted a link to a study somewhere around here about heart rate/blood pressure and ADHD medication. I'll try to find it for you if I can.

One thing that's interesting is that those who already have hypertension have more significant increases when taking stimulants, so perhaps in some, the hypertension is biologically mediated?

Check the link in this post:
http://addforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=531784&postcount=7

While I'd agree that stimulants can be taxing to your heart, so can every day stress (probably moreso).

This is something I believe "whole heartedly" in. I've read in a number of places that ADD'ers tend to have a higher rate of auto-immune disorders, including allergies, disorders in which stress plays a significant factor.

After a few months on Adderall IR, my hypertension was back with a vengeance and I was put back on Lisinopril (after being off for about five years). To be fair, my asthma was also acting up quite a bit, and I understand that frequent asthma attacks can aggravate blood pressure as well.

However, when I asked my Doc about this, he said that I probably inherited the hypertension from my father (same Doc has treated my whole family for years).

That said, I'd think it is obvious that stimulants affect your cardio-vascular system to one degree or another, but your individual case should be evaluated by your Doc as to whether or not the Pro's of stimulant usage to combat ADD outweigh the Con's. After all, hypertension can be treated quite effectively.

I can't say that I don't worry about the long term effects of stimulants though. I can't say that at all...

A search for posts about blood pressure brought up:

http://www.addforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=689716&photoplog_searchinfo=1&photoplog_searchquery=blood+pressure

My resting is like 88.

Also, I am taking Welbutrin due to the fact I was using it prior to the stimulant.

Wonder if that raises the pulse even more than just the stimulant alone?

trying not to hijack the thread, but I was wondering if stimulants increase your endurance? Because I keep hearing rumors they do despite them raising your blood pressure.

My resting is like 88.

Also, I am taking Welbutrin due to the fact I was using it prior to the stimulant.

Wonder if that raises the pulse even more than just the stimulant alone?My blood pressure went up with the stimulant and there was no noticeable increase when Wellbutrin was added. My blood pressure dropped considerably when I quit smoking.

trying not to hijack the thread, but I was wondering if stimulants increase your endurance? Because I keep hearing rumors they do despite them raising your blood pressure.I'd be interested in the answer to that question too.

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in, I used to be an avid mountain biker for many years and I am still in great shape from it. However, I can say that stimulants have had some effect on my resting heart rate when I am not on them.

My resting heart rate back when I used to ride every day was about 50-60, and after a short sprint my heart rate would peak and wind down faster than most people's. However, after starting stims (I havent ridden in a couple years) my resting rate on days I don't take stims is about 75.

The curious thing is my blood pressure has dropped to below average on days that I don't take them, versus when I excercised all the time where it was above average.

i asked cardiologists . no one really knows the long term effects but i was told thats its not a big issue . this depends on how high your rate is . if its really high you can add beta blockers to slow it down

I've been taking stimulants for about 5 years and go to my doctor every 4 months, she checks my blood pressure and sometimes gives me an ekg. I have consistently had lower, near perfect blood pressure since starting medication.