JACOB Wooderson, 28, died just days after his ADHD medication dose was increased.
The London-based analyst and keen musician collapsed from heart failure at his home on August 23, 2024 – less than six months after receiving a private diagnosis.
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Jacob, originally from Hereford, was described as “warm” and “caring” by family and friends, who said he “embraced life fully and unapologetically”.
He was first prescribed 30mg of Elvanse, but his dose was upped twice before his sudden death.
Jacob had told friends and his partner that the higher dose made him “feel weird”, left him exhausted and unable to sleep.
Just 17 days later, he collapsed and died at home.
Coroner Sarah Bourke ruled his death was caused by sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, contributed to by Elvanse treatment for ADHD (lisdexamfetamine).
In her Prevention of Future Deaths report, Ms Bourke wrote: “The arrhythmia may have had a genetic cause or be linked to Jacob’s medication.
“It is not possible to establish the precise cause of the arrhythmia on the balance of probabilities from the evidence before me.”
But she did warn that as ADHD diagnoses rise, more young people could be at risk.
There have been more than 750,000 prescriptions for lisdexamfetamine, sold under the brand names Vyvanse and Elvanse among others, in the NHS in the past year, according to OpenPrescribing, which publishes NHS England data.
Figures obtained by the BBC show the number of private prescriptions for ADHD drugs rose from 28,439 in 2018-19, to 397,552 in 2023-24.
In a narrative conclusion at the inquest in May, Ms Bourke said Jacob’s dose was increased to 50mg in June 2024 after tests were carried out in line with national guidance, including an ECG and for blood pressure and heart rate.
But when his psychiatrist later raised the dose again to 70mg on August 6, the same results from June, when Jacob was only on 30mg, were used to make the decision.
NICE guidance says patients should have their blood pressure and heart rate checked before and after every dose change, and at least once every six months.
The coroner noted that Jacob had only ever had video consultations with his psychiatrist, who made handwritten notes during appointments.
His baseline blood pressure and heart rate were not clearly recorded, and at no point was written advice given about Elvanse’s potential dangers.
Ms Bourke said: “Jacob was not given any clear written advice from his psychiatrist regarding the side effects of Elvanse or the steps to be taken if any adverse side effects presented.
“This was a missed opportunity for Jacob to have information which may have led him to seek medical advice which could in turn have led to a different outcome.”
She added: “Elvanse is an amphetamine-based medication which can have fatal cardiac side effects.
“As the dosage may increase gradually over months, there is the potential for a patient that has previously tolerated the medication to develop adverse side effects.
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About Elvanse for ADHD
Lisdexamfetamine (also called Elvanse) is a drug used to treat the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children aged over six years, young people and adults.
Lisdexamfetamine improves activity in the parts of the brain responsible for self-control and attention, making them work better.
It is known as a stimulant and affects the chemical neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline in the brain.
There are a number of considerations a doctor must make before prescribing it. It is important patients tell their doctor if they have high blood pressure, an overactive thyroid or epilepsy, for exmaple.
YoungMinds says to contact your doctor immediately but don’t stop taking lisdexamfetamine, if you get any of the following symptoms:
- concerns about weight loss, weight gain, or slower growth
- any changes or worsening of your mood or behaviour
- feeling or hearing things that are not real or believing things that are not true
- your behaviour changes because you feel very happy or over-excited
- uncontrolled speech or body movements
- uneven or racing heartbeats that feel like thumping inside your chest
If you are unable to contact your doctor, call NHS 111 for urgent advice.
“Monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure may help identify serious side effects at an early stage.”
The psychiatrist who treated Jacob told the hearing that if they had known about his symptoms on the higher dose, they would have advised him to stop taking Elvanse immediately.
Toxicology evidence confirmed the drug is a stimulant, and that even at therapeutic doses it can raise heart rate, trigger arrhythmias and, in rare cases, cause heart attacks.
A study in Australia has already linked ADHD medications to dozens of deaths, mostly in young adults.
Jacob, who worked for the blockchain platform Cardano, was remembered by family and friends as someone who was full of life.
A tribute page described him as “beloved son of Roland and Marnie, loving brother of Joshua, partner to Noemie and friend to many.”
It added: “He had this wonderful, goofy side, never afraid to be himself or to make those around him laugh.
“Whether he was cracking jokes or simply being his warm, caring self, Jacob made everyone feel special and seen.
“He would dance and sing at the top of his lungs walking down the street and just loved being the life of the party, turning every moment into something unforgettable.”
A fundraiser in his name has raised more than £6,700 for St Michael’s Hospice and Cardiac Risk in the Young.
Following the inquest, Ms Bourke issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report which has now been sent to Dr Lade Smith, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and Health Secretary Wes Streeting. Both have 56 days to respond.
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The 9 ‘hidden’ signs of ADHD in adults
ADHD has long been associated with naughty schoolkids who cannot sit still in class.
And that is part of it. Fidgeting, daydreaming and getting easily distracted are all symptoms of the behavioural condition, which is why it is often spotted in children.
However, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is far more complex than simply having trouble focusing.
Henry Shelford, CEO and co-founder of ADHD UK, says: “If it isn’t debilitating, it isn’t ADHD.”
In recent years, social media has given rise to trends which conflate specific personality traits or single behaviours with ADHD.
You might be thinking, ‘I’m always losing my keys, forgetting birthdays and I can never concentrate at work — I must have ADHD’. But it’s not as simple as that.
Though these may all point to the condition, Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, says: “The key distinction lies in how much a behaviour impacts a person’s daily life.
“Genuine ADHD symptoms affect multiple areas of life – work, relationships and emotional wellbeing – whereas personality traits are typically context-dependent and less disruptive.”
ADHD UK’s Henry, who has the condition himself, adds: “Having ADHD is hard. One in ten men with ADHD and one in four women with ADHD will at some point try to take their own lives.”
So how can ADHD manifest in someone’s life? While hyperactivity is a common indicator, here are nine other subtle signs:
- Time blindness – losing track of time, underestimating how long tasks will take, regularly being late or excessively early
- Lack of organisation – a messy home, frequently misplacing items, forgetting deadlines
- Hyperfocus – becoming deeply engrossed in activities for hours
- Procrastination – feeling overwhelmed by to-do lists and struggling to determine what needs your attention first so focusing on less important tasks
- Heightened emotions – emotional struggles can manifest in angry outbursts, feeling flooded with joy or shutting down because you feel too much at once
- Being a ‘yes man’ – agreeing to new projects at work or dinner dates with friends when you’re already busy (a desire to please)
- Impatience – interrupting people mid-conversation, finding it painful to stand in a queue, being overly-chatty
- Restlessness – tapping, pacing, fidgeting or feeling restless on the inside
- Easily distracted – by external things, like noises, or internal things like thoughts
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