Hyperactivity Drug Hardly Affects Kids' Growth

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Pooled data from 13 trials indicate that, overall, long-term Strattera therapy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder has a little effect on children's height and weight.

Dr. Thomas J. Spence of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and colleagues came to this conclusion after analyzing data on 412 children aged 6 to 16 years, who were treated with Strattera -- known generically as atomoxetine -- for 2 years or more.

After 2 years, weight and height were close to that predicted for age, the investigators report in the medical journal Pediatrics.

Weight increase averaged 10.8 kg, about 2.7 percent less than might have been expected from the children's beginning weight. Height increased by an average of 13.3 cm, which was about 2.2 percent less than predicted.

However, those children who were the smallest to start with showed an increase in these parameters while those with the highest starting measurements demonstrated a decrease.

The researchers observe that at a group level, there was only a "minimal effect" and in those initially of the least height and weight, there was no effect.

Nevertheless, they point out that in individual patients there could be more or less pronounced effects. Therefore, the team concludes, "It is important for clinicians to assess growth periodically."

SOURCE: Pediatrics, July 2005.