Stimulant in Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder Medication may Trigger Painful Erections

A recent release from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that a stimulant commonly found in medications used to treat childhood attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may trigger painful and long-lasting erections in rare cases.

The stimulant, known as methylphenidate, can be found in such treatment medications as Ritalin, Concerta and Daytrana-all common drugs used for the behavioral disorder.

The federal agency said as of Tuesday that it is updating its drug labels to include information regarding priapism-also known as a condition that can permanently damage a patient's penis.

This is most common for boys between the ages of 5 and 10, and for men between the ages of 20 and 50. Unfortunately, this uncommon condition requires immediate medical attention as it can result in tissue damage that may result in the inability to get or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction.)

The FDA based their findings on the review of adverse events reported from 15 agency cases of priapism from 1997 to 2012 in patients taking methylphenidate-based drugs. Twelve of the 14 cases reported were in children less than 18 years old, with a median age of 12 and ranging in age from 8 to 33. However, four of the study cases also occurred with the withdrawl of methylphenidate.

"In some patients, priapism resolved after the drug was restarted," according to FDA.

At this time, the FDA said it has not concluded that priapism is a definite risk with amphetamine products.