Pros and cons of medication:
Some Facts about ADHD treatments
 Medications can be reduced 50-75%
when combined with behavior therapy.
 Behavioral Treatments are less intensive
when combined with medical treatment.
 The two treatments compliment each
other in their effects.
 Medication alone does not teach the
alternate behaviors that are appropriate
in place of the problematic behavior
 A combined program is easier for parents
and teachers to maintain due to less
medication
 There is a 93-97% improvement rate,
compared to 50-79% for each treatment
alone
Why use medication?
Behavioral treatments for ADHD can
be difficult to implement if the child is
unable to attend to the lesson at hand.
Medications have been shown to
increase focus on tasks, as well as
calming children who seem to be
unable to sit still long enough to finish
a task completely. Using medications
can help to decrease the intensity of a
behavioral treatment, and to help the
child attend to the therapy more
effectively.
Drawbacks to medication:
Stimulant medication is extremely
unpredictable and getting the proper
dosage can take time and various
trials. Long term effects of medications
can be serious, and medications
should constantly be evaluated to
determine if they are doing the job
they are intended to do. Extra caution
should be exercised whenever there is
more than one medication used on the
same child. Also, medication alone
cannot possibly substitute for the
proper teaching and modeling required
to help a child learn to regulate their
own behaviors.
Other Resources:
http://www.adhd.com/ - ADHD online family
community
ADHD
(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
Medication options
Information on:
 Medical Treatments
 Benefits
 Drawbacks
 General Facts
http://www.add.org/ - Official Site of the
Attention Deficit Disorder Association
http://add.about.com/ - Information on
ADHD from about.com
References:
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http://www.web-tv.co.uk/addnet.html
http://www.adderallxr.com/
http://www.strattera.com
Safer, Daniel J., Are Stimulants Overprescribed for Youths
with ADHD? Annals of Clinical Psychiatry Vol. 12, Issue 1,
March 2000. pp. 55-62.
Pelham, William E. Jr. and Gnagy, Elizabeth M.,
Psychosocial and Combined Treatments for ADHD, Mental
Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research
Reviews, Vol. 5, 1999, pp. 225-236.
Pamphlet created by Misty Sommers-Tackett
Kent State University – School Psychology Dept.
Drug
Potential Benefits
Form
Duration
Works quickly, Good safety record. Works on at
least 70% of patients. Works on many people who
do not respond to dextroamphetamine. Reduces
restlessness, increases focus and self monitoring,
decreases impulsiveness…
Tablets
(10 mg)
3-4 hrs
Insomnia, decreased appetite, weight loss,
stomach ache - usually disappear after using for
a few weeks.
Not recommended for patients with anxiety,
motor tics. Together with dextroamphetamine is
usually the first line medication with the highest
success rate in improving ADHD type behaviors.
Works quickly. Works on many people who do not
respond to methylphenidate. Good safety record.
Tablets
(5 mg)
3-6 hrs
Insomnia, decreased appetite, irritability, weight
loss - usually disappear after use for a few
weeks.
Not recommended for patients with anxiety,
motor tics. See above. Cheaper than Ritalin,
drug of first choice in Australia.
Lasts longer than Ritalin. It is absorbed less
quickly, and could eliminate the need for a mid-day
dose of medication, which is sometimes intrusive
and embarrassing.
Tablets
(5,10,20
& 30
mg)
8-12 hrs
Decreased appetite, stomachache, difficulty
falling asleep, and irritability. (Other side effects seen
Abuse of amphetamines can lead to dependence.
Slower weight gain and/or growth in height have
been reported with long-term use of
amphetamine in children, although there appears
to be a “catch-up” over time.
Decreases impulsivity/distractability/hyperactivity/
emotionality.
Tablets
(37.5
mg)
3-6 hrs
convulsive seizures; hallucinations; dyskinetic
movements of the tongue, lips, face and
extremities; mild depression; dizziness; increased
irritability; headache; and drowsiness, insomnia,
weight loss, nausea, stunted growth.
Because of its association with life threatening
hepatic (liver) failure, CYLERT should NOT
ordinarily be considered as first line therapy for
ADHD.
CATAPRES
clonadine
hydrochloride
Decreases impulsivity/aggression/improves sleep
Tablets
(100
mg)
3-6 hrs
Little affect on attention. Causes sedation. Slight
concern with cardiac deaths.
Overdose dangerous. Withdraw medication
gradually
TOFRANIL
Decreases hyperactivity and probably
impulsivity/more beneficial to sleep than
stimulants/ improves mood particularly if depressed
or anxious. Lasts throughout the day.
Tablets
(10 &
25 mg)
12-24 hrs
Limited affect on attention. Dry mouth, fuzzy
head or dizziness. Causes sedation. Constipation.
Decreased appetite.
Some concerns with cardiac death. Accidental
poisoning can cause death/ a trycyclic
antidepressant May take 2-4 weeks for clinical
response. Usually considered a second line
medication.
NORPRAMIN
desipramine
hydrochloride
Similar to above. Helpful for ADHD patients with
comorbid depression/ anxiety
Tablets
(10 mg)
12-24 hrs
Similar to imipramine
More commonly used than imipramine in the
USA/ a trycyclic antidepressant
AURORIX
moclobemide
Reduces restlessness/ disturbing behavior/
increases attention span.
Tablets
(150
mg)
Considered about 1/3 as effective as stimulant
medication. Sleep disturbance, light headedness, nausea, headaches.
Usually considered a 3rd/4th line medication. Can
react with other medications. Do not administer
with stimulants, cold medicines, anti-depressants
STRATTERA
norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitor
Strattera is anon-stimulant medication and works
by selectively blocking the reuptake of
norepinephrine, by certain nerve cells in the brain
which increases the availability of norepinephrine,
which is thought to regulate impulse control,
organization and attention.
Oral
capsule
(NA)
Since this is a newer medication being used for
ADHD, there is not reliable information available
at this time.
The precise mechanism by which Strattera works
on ADHD is not known.
Decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue,
dyspepsia, dizziness, weight loss and mood
swings. Use caution in patients with
hypertension, hypotension, tachycardia, or
cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. Longterm effects unknown.
RITALIN
methylphenidate
DEXEDRINE
(sug.
dose)
dextroamphetamine
ADDERALL
(combination of
amphetamine salts)
CYCLERT
Pemoline
imipramine
hydrocloride
Possible Side Effects
with the amphetamine class of drug, the active ingredient in
ADDERALL XR, include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tics, allergic
reactions, weight loss, increased blood pressure, and psychosis
(abnormal thinking or hallucinations). )
Once a
day
Precautions/ Comments
Data provided by: ADDnet at http://www.btinternet.com/~black.ice/addnet/medchart.html and ADDerall XR at http://www.adderallxr.com/ and http://www.rxlist.com/ and http://www.strattera.com