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Medication Chart to Treat Attention Deficit Disorders
A.D.D. WareHouse
Originally summarized by Harvey C. Parker, Ph.D
DRUG
FORM DOSING
COMMON
SIDE
EFFECTS
CONCERTA
®
Methylphe
nidate
Tablet
18 mg
27 mg
36 mg
54 mg
Start with 18mg once
per day in the morning
and increase as
needed.
Insomnia,
decreased
appetite, weight
loss, headache,
irritability,
stomachache.
RITALIN® Tablet Start with a morning
Methylphe 5 mg dose of 5 mg/day and
nidate
10 mg increase up to 0.3-0.7
20 mg mg/kg of body weight.
2.5-60 mg/day*
Insomnia,
decreased
appetite, weight
loss, headache,
irritability,
stomachache.
RITALIN- Tablet Start with a morning
SR®
20 mg dose of 20 mg and
Methylphe
increase up to 0.3-0.7
nidate
mg/kg of body weight.
Sometimes 5 or 10 mg
standard tablet added
in morning for quick
start. Up to 60
mg/day*
Insomnia,
decreased
appetite, weight
loss, headache,
irritability,
stomachache.
DEXEDRIN Tablet Start with a morning
E®
5 mg dose of 5 mg and
Dextroamp
increase up to 0.3-0.7
hetamine Spans mg/kg of body weight.
ules
Give in divided doses25 mg 3 times per day. 2.510 mg 40 mg/day*
15 mg
ADDERALL Tablet Start with a morning
®
5 mg dose of 2.5 mg for 3-5
Mixed salts 10 mg year olds. For 6 years
of a single- 20 mg and older start with 5
entity
30 mg mg once or twice daily.
amphetami
ne
product.
ADDERALL Tablet Once a day dosing in
XR®
10 mg morning. Start with 10
Mixed salts 20 mg mg and increase up to
of a single- 30 mg 30 mg.
entity
amphetami
Insomnia,
decreased
appetite, weight
loss, headache,
irritability,
stomachache.
Insomnia,
decreased
appetite, weight
loss, headache,
irritability,
stomachache.
DURATION PROS
PRECAUTIONS
OF
BEHAVIORA
L
EFFECTS
About 12
Works quickly, Use cautiously in
hours
lasts for 12
patients with
hours. No
marked anxiety,
need for
motor tics or with
second dose
family history of
during school Tourette
or third, after syndrome.
school, dosing.
About 3-4
Works
Use cautiously in
hours
quickly(within patients with
30-60
marked anxiety,
minutes):
motor tics or with
effective in
family history of
70% of
Tourette
patients; good syndrome.
safety record.
About 7 hours Particularly
Slow onset of
useful for
action (1 - 2
adolescents
hours); use
with ADHD to cautiously in
avoid
patients with
noontime
marked anxiety,
dose; good
motor tics or with
safety record. family history of
Tourette
syndrome.
About 3-5
Works quickly Use cautiously in
hours (tablet) (within 30-60 patients with
About 7-10
minutes); may marked anxiety,
hours
avoid
motor tics or with
(spansule)
noontime dose family history of
in spansule
Tourette
form; good
syndrome.
safety record.
About 3-6
Works quickly Use cautiously in
hours
(within 30-60
patients with
minutes); may marked anxiety,
last somewhat motor tics or with
longer than
family history of
other standard
Tourette
stimulants.
syndrome.
Insomnia,
About 12
decreased
hours
appetite, weight
loss, headache,
irritability,
stomachache.
Works quickly
(within 30-60
minutes);
avoid needing
a noon time or
afternoon
Use cautiously in
patients with
marked anxiety,
motor tics or with
family history of
Tourette
ne
product.
TOFRANIL TOFRA Start with a dose of 25 Dry mouth,
12-24 hours
®
NIL® mg in evening if weight decreased
Imipramin Tablet <50 lbs. and increase appetite,
e;
s
25 mg every 3-5 days headache,
Hydrochlori 10 mg as needed. Given in
stomachache,
de
25 mg single or divided doses, dizziness,
NORPRAMI 50 mg morning and evening. constipation,
N®
NORPR 25-150 mg/day. Do
mild
Desipramin AMIN not skip days.
tachycardia,trem
e
®
or
Hydrochlori Tablet
de
s
10 mg
25 mg
50 mg
75 mg
100
mg
150
mg
METADATE Capsul Once a day dosing in
Insomnia,
About 8-10
CD®
e
morning. Start with 20 decreased
hours
Methylphe 20 mg mg and increase up to appetite, weight
nidate
60 mg or more if
loss, headache,
needed.
irritability,
stomachache
CATAPRES Tablet
®
s
Clonidine .1 mg
Hydrochlori .2 mg
de
.3 mg
Patche
s
TTS-1
TTS-2
TTS-3
Start with a dose
of.025-.05 mg/day in
evening and increase
by similar dose every
3-7 days as needed.
Given in divided doses
3-4 times per day.
0.15-.3mg/day*. Do
not skip days
Sleepiness,
hypotension,
headache
dizziness,
stomach ache,
nausea, dry
mouth, localized
skin reactions
with patch.
3-6 hours
(oral form)
5 days (skin
patch)
dose.
syndrome.
Helpful for
ADHD patients
with comorbid
depression or
anxiety; lasts
throughout
day.
May take 2-4
weeks for clinical
response; to
detect preexisting
cardiac
conduction
defect, a baseline
ECG may be
recommended.
Discontinue
gradually.
Particularly
useful for
adolescents
and adults to
avoid needing
a noon time
dose; good
safety record.
Helpful for
ADHD patients
with comorbid
tic disorder or
severe
hyperactivity
and/or
aggression.
Use cautiously in
patients with
marked anxiety,
motor tics or with
family history of
Tourette
syndrome
Sudden
discontinuation
could result in
rebound
hypertension; to
avoid daytime
tiredness starting
dose given at
bedtime and
increased slowly
*Daily dose range
Strattera, a new, non stimulant medication has recently been added to this list. Here is
information on Strattera.
When considering any medication you must always speak with your child's
physician or psychiatrist. This information is presented only to help parents know more
about the different types of medicines that are often prescribed for ADHD.
posted April 3, 2003