Long-Term Safety of Stimulant Medications Used to Treat Children with ADHD

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Lerner ◽  
Tim Wigal
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. e35-e35
Author(s):  
Jean-Francois Lemay ◽  
Julie-Anne Lemay ◽  
Hanna Kubas

Abstract BACKGROUND Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that often negatively impacts behaviour, cognition, and learning. Stimulant medications are the most commonly used treatment for ADHD, with informant reports (e.g., parent questionnaires, surveys) frequently used to evaluate medication impact on behavioural and academic functioning in affected children. OBJECTIVES To determine parental perceptions of medication impact on behaviour and learning in a long-acting methylphenidate (LA-MPH) trial of their children with ADHD. DESIGN/METHODS A randomized controlled LA-MPH medication trial was conducted with children ages 8–12 with a diagnosis of ADHD. Trial began with one-week of baseline assessment, followed by a randomized three-week standard of care medication trial, and a one-week best dose assessment. Following the conclusion of the study (6 months to 2 years’ range post-treatment), families were asked to participate in a voluntary follow-up phone survey to evaluate parental perceptions on child’s behaviour and learning. RESULTS A total of 34/42 (81%) families participated (male to female ratio: 2.1/1). At the time of the follow-up survey, 53% (18/34) and 68% (23/34) of patients were having “difficulty” or “significant difficulty” with their behaviour and learning, respectively. Twenty-three patients (68%) were still on psycho-stimulant medications. Although parents of those 23 children said LA-MPH had in general “significant” or “very significant” impact on their child’s behaviour (87%) and learning (79%), these parents were still reporting challenges with behaviour (52%) and learning (61%) at follow-up. In addition, parents of children not on medication said that their current child’s behaviour and learning was still having the same or more challenging issues (82% and 73% respectively). CONCLUSION Overall, parents reported that medication significantly impacted their child’s behaviour and learning; however, long-term medication impact appears less effective. Thus, an ongoing relationship with families and paediatricians is recommended to better understand the impact of medication on behaviour and learning. Evaluating the effects of medication on behaviour and learning may ultimately lead to targeted intervention that help foster long-term treatment efficacy for children with ADHD.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (S6) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy E. Wilens

AbstractAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a lifelong condition that begins in childhood and continues with adult manifestations related to the core symptoms. Approximately 50% to 75% of children with ADHD continue to meet criteria for the disorder as adolescents and adults. Adults with the disorder increasingly present to primary care physicians, psychiatrists, and other practitioners for diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the diagnosis of ADHD in adults requires knowledge of age-dependent decline of symptoms over time. Retrospective recall of symptoms and impairment are valid methods of diagnosing the disorder. ADHD is also a brain disorder with a strong neurobiologic basis, complex etiology, and genetic component. Genetic and environmental vulnerabilities give rise to abnormalities in the brain and subsequent behavioral and cognitive deficits, which may produce the symptoms associated with ADHD. Magnetic resonance imaging studies of ADHD have provided evidence that abnormalities in the brain are caused by the disorder itself rather than treatment of the disorder. Psychiatric comorbidity is common among patients with ADHD and tends to complicate treatment. Acute and long-term use of long-acting stimulant formulations (methylphenidate and amphetamine compounds) have shown robust efficacy and tolerability consistent with the treatment response established in children with ADHD. Non-stimulant medications have demonstrated efficacy as well, and may be preferred in patients with tic and substance use disorders.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S132-S132
Author(s):  
I. Hernández Otero ◽  
T. Banaschewski ◽  
P. Nagy ◽  
C.A. Soutullo ◽  
A. Zuddas ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe long-term safety and efficacy of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) in children and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was evaluated in a European 2-year, open-label study (SPD489-404).ObjectiveTo evaluate the time-course of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in SPD489-404.MethodsParticipants aged 6–17 years received open-label LDX (30, 50 or 70 mg/day) for 104 weeks (4 weeks dose-optimization; 100 weeks dose-maintenance).ResultsAll enrolled participants (n = 314) were included in the safety population and 191 (60.8%) completed the study. TEAEs occurred in 282 (89.8%) participants; most were mild or moderate. TEAEs considered by the investigators as related to LDX were reported by 232 (73.9%) participants with the following reported for ≥ 10% of participants: decreased appetite (49.4%), weight decreased (18.2%), insomnia (13.1%). TEAEs leading to discontinuation and serious TEAEs occurred in 39 (12.4%) and 28 (8.9%) participants, respectively. The median (range) time to first onset and duration, respectively, of TEAEs identified by the sponsor as being of special interest were: insomnia (insomnia, initial insomnia, middle insomnia, terminal insomnia), 17.0 (1–729) and 42.8 (1–739) days; weight decreased, 29.0 (1–677) and 225.0 (26–724) days; decreased appetite, 13.5 (1–653) and 169.0 (1–749) days; headache, 22.0 (1–718) and 2.0 (1–729) days. Reports of insomnia, weight decreased, decreased appetite and headache were highest in the first 4–12 weeks.ConclusionsTEAEs associated with long-term LDX treatment were characteristic of stimulant medications, with the greatest incidence observed during the first 4–12 weeks.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


1989 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Levy

Controversies in the use of central nervous system stimulant medications in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are discussed. Diagnostic issues, age of optimal use, side effects, effects on learning and ethical considerations are current issues. An animal model for the effects of chronic long-term high dose regimes is proposed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 282
Author(s):  
Tjhin Wiguna ◽  
Sasanto Wibisono ◽  
Sudigdo Sastroasmoro ◽  
Fransiscus D. Suyatna

Objective To identify the cardiovascular effects of long-acting methylphenidate administered for twelve weeks in Indonesian children with ADHD.Methods This was an 18-week, time series study on children with ADHD who were given 20 mg of long-acting methylphenidate for twelve weeks. During the study period we made ten serial observations of the subjects, including before, during and 6 weeks following drug administration. We included drug naive children with ADHD between the ages of 7 – 10 years. Children with mental retardation and chronic physical or mental disorders were excluded. Blood pressure was measured by sphygmomanometer with a child’s cuff at the brachial artery. We also collected data on heart rate, side effects, complaints and other medications used during the study. Repeated analysis was performed on the data with a P level of 0.05.Results Twenty-one subjects were recruited for this study. Mean blood pressure fluctuated insignificantly during the research period, for both mean systolic and mean diastolic blood pressures (P=0.115 and P=0.059). Mean heart rate also fluctuated insignificantly (P=0.091). All fluctuations were within the normal ranges. During the study, there were complaints of dizziness, nausea, and gastrointestinal upset, but they were reportedly mild and disappeared before the second week of observation.Conclusion Administration of 20 mg long-acting methylphenidate for twelve weeks in children with ADHD altered mean blood pressures and heart rates, but within the normal range for children of their age. However, cardiovascular risk observation is still needed when administering methylphenidate to children with ADHD, especially for those using the medication long-term.[Paediatr Indones. 2011;51:282-7].


Author(s):  
James J. Mcgough ◽  
Joseph Biederman ◽  
Sharon B. Wigal ◽  
Frank A. Lopez ◽  
James T. Mccracken ◽  
...  

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