FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SUPPRESSANT EFFECTS OF TWO STIMULANT DRUGS ON THE GROWTH OF HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN

The effect of the regular intake of stimulant medication for two or more years on growth in weight and height was evaluated for 63 hyperactive children, 29 of whom received dextroamphetamine, 20 of whom received methylphenidate, and 14 of whom received no medication because of parental objection. Major findings were: the long-term use of dextroamphetamine in hyperactive children causes a highly significant suppression of growth in weight and height; the long-term use of methylphenidate causes a less striking growth suppression only when daily doses over 20 mg are administered; tolerance develops to the weight suppressant effects of dextroamphetamine, but not to is inhibition of height growth; increasing the total degree of stimulant drug use over time generally increases the degree of growth suppression.