Drug Class Review: Pharmacologic Treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Final Report Update 3 [Internet]

Review
Portland (OR): Oregon Health & Science University; 2009 Oct.
Drug Class Reviews.

Excerpt

According to the most recent National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement (1998), "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most commonly diagnosed childhood behavioral disorder." A wide range of drugs are available to treat ADHD, with stimulant medications being the historically the treatment of choice. There are now many stimulants and multiple formulations of individual stimulants, on the market. Additionally, there are non-stimulant medications that are used to treat ADHD, including atomoxetine, atypical antipsychotics, bupropion, clonidine, and guanfacine. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the comparative evidence of benefits and harms of medications used to treat ADHD, with specific emphasis on evaluating the newer long-acting stimulant formulations and the nonstimulant medication atomoxetine relative to each other and the older immediate release stimulant medications. The review includes both children and adults.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

The Drug Effectiveness Review Project, composed of 15 organizations including 14 state Medicaid agencies and the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health, commissioned and funded for this report. These organizations selected the topic of the report and had input into its Key Questions. The content and conclusions of the report were entirely determined by the Evidence-based Practice Center researchers. The authors of this report have no financial interest in any company that makes or distributes the products reviewed in this report.