Inpharma 1414 - 22 Nov 2003

■ Twice-daily Adderall may be more effective inchildren with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) than once-daily treatment, according toresearchers from the US.* In their multicentre,crossover study, 12 patients aged 7–12 years withADHD who had responded to methylphenidatetherapy were randomised to receive Adderall 10mg inthe morning and at midday, or Adderall 10mg in themorning and placebo at midday, on two separatestudy days. AUC and Cmax values for both isomers ofamphetamine were significantly higher (approximatelytwice) for twice-daily Adderall than once-daily dosing.In the afternoon, mean deportment scores on theSKAMP** rating scale were significantly improved bytwice-daily Adderall, compared with once-dailyAdderall. A similar effect was observed for attentionscores, but statistical significance was not reached.Twice-daily dosing was also associated withsignificantly improved afternoon performance on amathematics test, relative to once-daily dosing.* Several of the researchers were affiliated with ShirePharmaceutical Development, US, which funded the study.** Swanson, Alger, M-Flynn and Pelham

Greenhill LL, et al. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study comparing asingle morning dose of adderall to twice-daily dosing in children with ADHD.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 42:1234-1241, No. 10, Oct 2003 800951989

1

Inpharma 22 Nov 2003 No. 14141173-8324/10/1414-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved