title: Growth and pubertal development of adolescent boys on stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the growth and pubertal attainment of boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on stimulant medication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study of boys aged 12.00-15.99 years at recruitment in 2005-2011, with stimulant-treated ADHD for at least 3 years, attending three paediatric practices (subjects), compared with longitudinal data from 174 boys from the Nepean longitudinal study (controls).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects' growth parameters before treatment were compared with controls aged 7 or 8 years; growth parameters and longitudinal changes on treatment to ages 12.00-13.99 and 14.00-15.99 years were compared with controls reviewed at 13 and 15 years of age, respectively. The subjects' pubertal staging and height velocity were related to their treatment history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five subjects were recruited; mean duration of treatment was 6.3 ± 1.9 years. At baseline, their growth parameters were not significantly different from those of the controls after adjusting for age. Compared with the controls, after adjusting for current age and baseline growth parameter z score, subjects aged 12.00-13.99 years had significantly lower weight and body mass index (P < 0.01), and those aged 14.00-15.99 years had significantly lower height and weight (P < 0.05). At 12.00-13.99 years of age, the subjects were comparable to the controls in their pubertal development adjusted for age, but those aged 14.00-15.99 years reported significant delay (mean Tanner stage, 3.6 for subjects v 4.0 for controls; P < 0.05). The dose of medication was inversely correlated with the height velocity from baseline to 14.00-15.99 years of age (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolonged treatment (more than 3 years) with stimulant medication was associated with a slower rate of physical development during puberty. To maintain adequate height velocity during puberty, we recommend keeping the dose as low as possible.
authors: Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. alison.poulton@sydney.edu.au
authors: Alison S
authors: AS
authors: Poulton
authors: Elaine
authors: E
authors: Melzer
authors: Paul R
authors: PR
authors: Tait
authors: Sarah P
authors: SP
authors: Garnett
authors: Chris T
authors: CT
authors: Cowell
authors: Louise A
authors: LA
authors: Baur
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D000367:Age Factors; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate