   
Does Medication Delay Puberty?
Q:
"My 14 year-old seems to be slow with his puberty stage. Is there any chance Adderall or Concerta has effected his growth rate?" 
A:
The stimulant medications have been used since the early 1950s. No studies have shown that they delay puberty. Concerning an impact on growth hormone and height, the consensus at this time, based on all studies, is that these medications do not decrease the production of growth hormone nor impact on height. The most frequent reason for delayed puberty is genetics. Did either parent or a parent's siblings develop slower than others? Discuss this problem and your concerns with your family physician.
Larry Silver, M.D., is the author of Dr. Larry Silver's Advice to Parents on AD/HD and The Misunderstood Child: Understanding and Coping with Your Child's Learning Disabilities. He is also a clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
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