Objective: Atomoxetine is a nonstimulant medication for treating child, adolescent, and adult ADHD. This meta-analysis compared the effects in younger and older adults.
Method: A post hoc analysis was conducted using data from two double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Data from patients aged 18-25 years were compared with data from patients older than 25 years.
Results: In younger adults (mean age = 21.7), atomoxetine produces greater improvement than placebo on the Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale's total ADHD symptom score (p = .041, effect size = .797) and the clinical global impressions severity (p = .006, effect size = 1.121). In older adults (mean age = 43.4 years), atomoxetine also produces significant benefit on the CAARS-Inv:SV (p < .001, effect size = .326) and CGI-ADHD-S (p < .001, effect size = .346). The study findings reveal response rates to be 56.4% and 47.8% for the younger and older adults, respectively (p = .188). Tolerability is similar although older adults reported more sexual side effects.
Conclusion: Younger and older adults show similar improvements at endpoint. The effect size is higher in younger adults, but this is due primarily to greater variability of response in older patients.