Children and adolescents who are diagnosed with ADHD often need to be prescribed a medication to control their symptoms with several years if not longer. Clinical Psychiatric News, June 2008, vol 36, no. 6, reported on relapse prevention study of 600 children and adolescents who were followed for 18 months. “ADHD rating scale measurements showed relapse rates were lower for those taking atomoxetine, compared with those in the placebo arm.” Based on this data, the FDA approved strattera as a maintenance treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD ages 6 to 15. This study raises a number of important questions. The study compared strattera against placebo. Do other ADHD medications do a better job of controlling ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents in the long term at lower cost? And, does strattera continue to remain effective if the child on prescribed the drug for several years or longer? These questions will have to await further study.
The Bottom Line: A new study appears to support the conclusion that strattera is helpful in controlling ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents for up to one year as compared to placebo.
Reference: http://www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com/article/S0270-6644(08)70374-6/fulltext
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Psychopharmacology Associates
of New England
www.psychopharmassociates.com