-This is one of the only disorders where medication is the first line treatment in children and adolescents.
-There is a 70%-80% response rate to psychostimulants, and medication consistently outperforms behavioral interventions in RCTs.
-For preschool age children, behavioral interventions are first line and medications are considered if there is a poor response to behavioral intervention and functional impairment.
Psychostimulants
–Methylphenidate (MPH or Ritalin) should be started at 2.5 to 5 mg twice daily (before breakfast and lunch). It can be increased by 2.5 to 5 mg/day reaching an optimal dose of 1 mg/kg/day and a maximum dose of 2 mg/kg/day.
–Side effects include insomnia, decreased appetite, mood disturbance, tics, headaches, GI distress, and rarely psychosis.
-There are several long-acting preparations including Ritalin XR, Ritalin LA, metadate, Concerta, Daytrana, Focalin XR and several others. The important point about long-acting preparation is they provide a sustained second release with resulting plasma levels lasting 4-12 hours depending on the preparation.
–Amphetamine sulfate (Adderall): should be started at 2.5-5 mg once or twice per day. It can be increased by 5 mg per week with an optimal dose of 0.5-1 mg/kg/day. Dextroamphetamine is twice as potent as amphetamine. The side effect profile is similar to MPH.
Longer-acting amphetamine preparations include Adderall XR, Dexedrine, Dyanavel XR, and Vyvanse (formulated as a prodrug to reduce the risk of abuse). These will provide coverage for about 12 hours.
-There is a black box warning for the risk of abuse and dependence. In addition, there is a cardiovascular safety warning regarding the risk of sudden cardiac death in children and adolescents with structural heart defects or other severe cardiac conditions. Patients should be screened for any cardiovascular disorders, family history of sudden cardiac death, and an EKG should be performed.
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