A physician's assistant has ordered Adderall for a 14-year-old boy with ADHD and a history of cardiomyopathy. The nurse should question the order because:

Question

1. The dosing will need to be high because of the cardiac history and the body's ability to quickly metabolize the medication.
2. Adderall is not effective for children over the age of 12.
3. ADHD medications should be avoided because they can cause sudden death in children with a history of cardiomyopathy.
4. The ADHD medication will not reach a therapeutic level because of the negative interactions with cardiac medications.

Answer 1

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1. The medication should not be given with a history of cardiomyopathy.
2. Adderall can be effective in children over the age of 12. The issue is the past history of cardiomyopathy.
3. Sudden cardiac arrest can occur because of the history of cardiomyopathy.
4. Cardiomyopathy and ADHD medications cause an increased risk for sudden death.