The Latest ADD/ADHD Drug Treatments: What Is Really New and What Is Not New
by Jon Bennett
The latest drugs for ADD/ADHD are, most of them, forms of amphetamines or methylphenidate – which have been used to treat hyperactivity since the 1960s. Here’s a list of the ADD/ADHD medications approved after 2000, and a description of how they are better than the older drugs:
1. Methylphenidate drugs Focalin XR, Ritalin LA, Concerta, and Metadate CD are all long-acting, extended release versions of methylphenidate. They need to be taken just once a day, and because the drug is released slowly into the body, there is also less of a rebound effect (your child gets even more hyperactive and inattentive as the medicine wears off). Ritalin LA can be sprinkled on food, so it is easier to give to children. If your child cannot (or will not) take tablets and capsules, you can use Daytrana, a methylphenidate patch designed to be worn on the hips.
2. Amphetamines The newest amphetamines for ADD/ADHD (Dextrostat, Dexedrine Spansules, Adderall XR) are also all long-acting, and need to be taken just once a day. Also, Dextrostat is so far the only drug approved for children under 6 (though not under 3).
3. Non-stimulant drugs Strattera is the only non-stimulant drug approved for ADD/ADHD, and because it is not a stimulant, it is not included in Schedule II, and can be used by people who have a history of substance abuse.
But because the new drugs are all versions of the old ones, they continue to have almost the same problems connected with them:
1. They have not been proved safe for children. Dextrostat is the only ADD/ADHD drug approved for children younger than six, and even this has not been approved for children younger than three.
2. They have the same side-effects Your child will probably eat less and grow more slowly, or have stomach and head aches and be unable to sleep at night. Strattera can cause liver damage. More scary than these is the possibility of mental side effects – a few (very few) of those on amphetamines will psychotic problems, and a few (again, very few) on Strattera will have thoughts of suicide.
3. They can be abused and addictive People continue to find ways to get a high with these drugs, or they use it to study or party late. Any use without a doctor’s supervision can be dangerous, because your child may get quickly dependent on the drugs.
So if you have a child with ADD/ADHD, try every other option first before you put your children on medicines. For children below three, medicine should not be even considered.
About the Author
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