Does ADHD medication affect growth?

ADHD medications, particularly sympathomimetic drugs like Adderall, Ritalin, and Vyvanse, do not appear to significantly stunt growth when used appropriately during developmental stages. In discussions about their impact on physical development, Andrew Huberman clarifies that there is no clear evidence that these medications limit overall growth, such as height.

Furthermore, children with ADHD who are treated with these medications tend to have slightly higher body mass indexes (BMIs) compared to their peers, which doesn’t necessarily correlate directly with height but indicates that these medications are not impeding physical growth overall. He does note, however, that the prolonged elevation of sympathetic nervous system activity through these medications carries risks, such as potential cardiovascular effects, but specific growth inhibition is not highlighted as a primary concern 1 .