Review of ADHD Pharmacotherapies
Review of ADHD Pharmacotherapies
Review of ADHD Pharmacotherapies
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PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY PERSPECTIVES
Table 2 summarizes the long-acting methylphenidate and amphetamine FDA-approved treatments for
ADHD.
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Fig. 1 Cost comparison of Food and Drug AdministrationYapproved medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
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5, 10
Tablet
Tablet
Yes
Yes
Age Q3
Age Q6
Immediate release
Immediate release
Amphetamine
(Dexedrine)
Amphetamine
(Dextrostat)
Yes
Age Q3
Immediate release
component is delivered by an osmotic pump (osmoticrelease oral system) that gradually releases methylphenidate producing an ascending serum concentration
curve to approximate a three-times-daily dosing
schedule.
Helpful Hints:
Note: ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; FDA = Food and Drug Administration; q.d. = medication delivered once per day.
4
40 mg
5 mg q.d. to b.i.d.
Yes
Ages 6Y17
Immediate release
d-Methylphenidate
(Focalin)
Mixed amphetamine
salts (Adderall)
Yes
No
Age Q6
Age Q6
Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Methylphenidate
(Methylin)
Immediate release
Immediate release
Tablet
5, 10, 20
5, 10, 20 tablets 2.5, 5,
10 chewable tablet,
5 mg/5 mL and
10 mg/5 mL solution
2.5, 5, 10
Tablet
Tablet, chewable
tablet, solution
Lesser of 1 mg/kg/
day or 20 mg
Lesser of 1 mg/kg/
day or 40 mg
2.5 mg b.i.d.
40 mg
4
4
60 mg
Lesser of 2 mg/kg/
day or 60 mg
5 mg
5 mg
Duration of
Action, h
Maximum Dose
Per Day
Typical Starting
Dose3
Doses, mg
Available
Preparations
Generic
FDA
Approval
Mode of Delivery
Medication (Trade Name)
TABLE 1
FDA-Approved Short-Acting Stimulant ADHD Pharmacotherapies
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY PERSPECTIVES
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Methylphenidate
(Methylin ER)Vpulse
Methylphenidate
(Metadate CD)Vpearls
No
No
Age Q6
Age Q6
No
No
No
No
Ages 6Y12
Age Q6
Age Q6
Ages 6Y12
and adults
No
No
Age Q6
Age Q6
No
Age Q6
No
No
Age Q6
Age Q6
Generic
10, 20
10, 20
20
Doses, mg
10 mg
18 mg
5 mg
20 mg
20 mg
10 mg
10 mg
10 mg
Typical
Starting
Dose3
Lesser than
1 mg/kg/day
or 30 mg
Lesser than
2 mg/kg/day
or 72 mg
Lesser than
2 mg/kg/day
or 60 mg
60 mg
Lesser than
2 mg/kg/day
or 60 mg
60 mg
60 mg
Maximum Dose
Per Day
Lesser than
1 mg/kg/day
or 30 mg
Capsule (may be 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 10 mg q.d. Lesser than
opened and
1.0 mg/kg
sprinkled)
or 30 mg
Capsule
5, 10, 15
5Y10 mg q.d. Lesser than
to b.i.d.
1.0 mg/kg
or 40 mg
Capsule
20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 30 mg q.d. Lesser than
1.0 mg/kg
or 70 mg
Transdermal film
Tablet
Tablet
Tablet
Tablet
Available
Preparations
10 h
10 h
10 h
12 h
Up to 12 h
Up to 12 h
7Y9 h1
8Y9 h1
7Y8 h
7Y8 h
Up to 8 h
Duration
of Action
Note: ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; FDA = Food and Drug Administration; OROS = osmotic-release oral system; q.d. = medication delivered once per day.
Lisdexamfetamine
(Vyvanse)Vprodrug
Amphetamine (Dexedrine
Spansule)Vpearls
Methylphenidate
(Daytrana)Vpatch
Methylphenidate
(Concerta)Vpump
d-Methylphenidate
(Focalin XR)Vpearls
Methylphenidate
(Ritalin LA)Vpearls
Mode of Delivery
Methylphenidate
(Ritalin SR)Vpulse
Methylphenidate
(Metadate ER)Vpulse
FDA
Approval
TABLE 2
FDA-Approved Long-Acting Stimulant ADHD Pharmacotherapies
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY PERSPECTIVES
Helpful Hint:
It is hypothesized that this medication may be
associated with diminished risk for abuse because of
its decreased and/or delayed release after intravenous or
intranasal administration and delayed blood level spike
after ingestion, decreasing any immediate effects.
NONSTIMULANT PREPARATIONS
TABLE 3
FDA-Approved Nonstimulant ADHD Pharmacotherapy
Medication
(Trade Name)
Atomoxetine
(Strattera)
Mode of Delivery
Immediate releaseVgenerally
dosed q.d. but can be
dosed b.i.d.
FDA
Approval
Age Q6
Available
Generic Preparations
No
Capsule
Doses, mg
10, 18, 25, 40,
60, 80, 100
Typical Starting
Dose3
Maximum
Dose Per
Day
Note: ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; FDA = Food and Drug Administration; q.d. = medication delivered once per day.
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Bupropion SR
Clonidine
(Catapres)
No
NoVconcerns of rash
characteristic of
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome
Approvability letter
received
No
No
No
FDA Approval
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Generic
Tablet; 7-day
extended-release
transdermal film
Tablet
Tablet
Tablet
Film-coated tablet
Film-coated tablet
Available
Preparations
Unknown
Typical Starting
Dose3
1, 2
100, 200
150, 300
75, 100
Doses, mg
Note: ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; FDA = Food and Drug Administration; q.d. = medication delivered once per day.
Guanfacine
(Tenex)
Modafinil
(Provigil)
Bupropion XL
Immediate release
Mode of Delivery
Bupropion
(Wellbutrin/
Zyban)
Medication
(Trade Name)
TABLE 4
NonYFDA-Approved Medications Used in ADHD Pharmacotherapy
Maximum Dose
Per Day
PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY PERSPECTIVES
Bupropion (Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR, and Wellbutrin XL) is an antidepressant that acts via dopamine
and norepinephrine.
Advantages: Although its therapeutic effect seems to be
less than that of stimulants or atomoxetine, it does have
demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of ADHD.3
Disadvantages: Common side effects include irritability, anorexia, insomnia, and, less commonly,
development of tics. The risk for drug-induced
seizures increases 10-fold at dosages greater than
450 mg/day.
Helpful Hint:
It is also approved for smoking cessation (Zyban).
When to Use:
This is another medication that is primarily adjunctive treatment or after first-line treatments have failed.
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http://www.Chadd.org
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/
Parents
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd/
complete-publication.shtml
http://www.parentsmedguide.com/pmg_adhd.html
Clinicians
http://www.massgeneral.org/schoolpsychiatry/screeningtools_
table.asp
DISCUSSION
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2. Differences between long-acting stimulant preparations that influence treatment planning include duration of action, cost, ability for children to swallow
pills, and abuse risk.
3. Nonstimulant medications are effective as primary as
well as adjunctive treatments for ADHD.
4. NonYFDA-approved medications can be used effectively and safely as adjunctive treatments for ADHD
or when first-line treatments have failed.
5. Awareness of the various characteristics of each
medication that has been studied in the treatment of
ADHD allows for optimal care for each individual
patient.
REFERENCES
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Pediatrics. 2005;115:e749Ye757 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004<2560).
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4. Faraone SP, Biederman J, Morley Christopher P et al. Effect of stimulants on height and weight: a review of the literature. J Am Acad Child
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with ADHD: understanding for whom and how interventions work.
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9. Pelham WE Jr, Greenslade KE, Vodde-Hamilton M et al. Relative efficacy
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