We train health care professionals and
the public about ADHD in Adults
with the latest evidence-based content
from International Experts.

Program Committee: Stephen V. Faraone, PhD, Program Director;
Lenard Adler, MD, David Goodman, MD, Co-Chairs, APSARD Education Committee;
Jonathan Marx, MBA, Media and Marketing Director

ADHD Medications

ADHD medications are proven by research to be the most effective in both reliability and effect size of any other treatment for ADHD symptoms. Psychotherapy and alternative approaches are good adjuncts to ADHD medicine, but by themselves do not adequately address ADHD symptoms in adults.

How effective are ADHD medications in adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently comorbid with ADHD. Among adults with ADHD, as many as half are reported to also have ASD. A Dutch team set out to answer two questions: Do adults with ADHD and comorbid ASD experience less effectiveness of pharmacological treatment for ADHD than adults with only ADHD? Do adults with …

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Long-Acting Liquid Methylphenidate for Treating ADHD in Intellectually Capable Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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A team from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital conducted a six-week open-label trial of liquid-formulation extended-release methylphenidate (MPH-ER) to treat ADHD in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD). ASD is a lifelong disorder with deficits in social communication and interaction and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Roughly half of those diagnosed with ASD also …

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Are There Adverse Effects to Long-Term Treatment of ADHD with Methylphenidate?

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Methylphenidate (MPH) is one of the most widely-prescribed medications for children. Given that ADHD frequently persists over a large part of an individual’s lifespan, any side effects of medication initiated during childhood may well be compounded over time. With funding from the European Union, a recently released review of the evidence looked for possible adverse …

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Recent Trends in the Prescribing of ADHD Medications in Canadian Primary Care

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Rachael Morkem, Scott Patten, John Queenan, and David Barber Journal of Attention Disorders 1 –8 , 2017 DOI: 10.1177/1087054717720719 This study describes trends the incidence and prevalence of prescribing ADHD medication in a large Canadian Primary Care Physician (PCP) Network over a ten year period from 2005-2015. Canada has public funded health care, creating a …

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How Reliable are Subjective Estimates of ADHD Medication Adherence?

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A study conducted at Auburn University in Alabama recruited 54 college students to address this question. All had previously been diagnosed with ADHD. All lived independently, and all were taking a prescribed ADHD medication. Students with severe comorbid psychiatric conditions were excluded. Three students dropped out, leaving a final sample size of 51. Each student …

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Review of Cardiovascular Effects of ADHD Medications

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This article provides a review of the cardiovascular effects of ADHD medications including potential effects on blood pressure, heart rate and risk of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, sudden death and stroke). The article notes that meta-analyses have generally found that the effects of stimulant medications and atomoxetine were generally similar on systolic blood pressure (1-3 …

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High Dropout Rate in Six-Year Cohort Study of Medication Treatment for ADHD

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Few studies have examined the safety and tolerability of ADHD medications (stimulants and atomoxetine) extending beyond six months, and none beyond a few years. A pair of Swedish neuroscientists at Uppsala University Hospital set out to explore longer-term outcomes. They conducted a six-year prospective study of 112 adults diagnosed with ADHD who were being treated …

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New Amphetamine Formulation extends ADHD coverage to 16 Hours

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The Journal of Attention Disorders has published two papers about a new formulation of mixed amphetamine salts that uses a triple bead technology (MAS-TB). This technology allows for a delayed release of the medication and enables a duration of effect up to sixteen hours. This 16-hour effect is significantly higher than existing stimulant medications which …

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Adherence to ADHD Medication in College Freshmen

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According to statistics released in 2014 by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center1, nearly 1 in 3 college students will drop out in their first year of college. While there are a variety of possible reasons (e.g., financial, etc.) for this sobering statistic, this finding highlights that transitioning to college can be challenging for a …

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How do Stimulants Modulate the Brain to Improve ADHD Symptoms?

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The stimulants methylphenidate and amphetamine are well known for their efficacy in treating symptoms of ADHD in both youth and adults. Although these medications have been used for several decade, relatively little is known about the mechanisms of action that lead to their therapeutic effect. New data about mechanism comes from a meta-analysis by Katya …

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