Strattera May Treat ADHD in Some Young Kids
March 21, 2011 -- The non-stimulant ADHD drug Strattera (atomextine) is approved for children aged 6 and older, but until now little was known about how this medication affects children younger than 6.
In a new eight-week study of 101 children aged 5 to 6 with ADHD, the drug was safe and reduced some ADHD symptoms in children, according to reports by their parents and teachers.
That said, just 40% of children treated with Strattera were “much” or “very much improved” on a clinical evaluation scale, compared with 22% of children who took placebo. Because the study was small, the percentage of children in the “much improved” or “very much improved” category was not statistically significant.
The new findings, which appear online in Pediatrics, are similar to what has been seen in older children who take this medication for ADHD.
About 3% to 5% of children and adults in the U.S have ADHD, which stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It’s a behavioral disorder marked by impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and inattention.
Unlike many other medications used to treat ADHD, Straterra is not a stimulant. Instead, it works by boosting levels of the brain chemical norepinephrine, which helps reduce impulsive behavior and hyperactivity and increases attention span.
Slideshow: ADHD in Children
In a new eight-week study of 101 children aged 5 to 6 with ADHD, the drug was safe and reduced some ADHD symptoms in children, according to reports by their parents and teachers.
That said, just 40% of children treated with Strattera were “much” or “very much improved” on a clinical evaluation scale, compared with 22% of children who took placebo. Because the study was small, the percentage of children in the “much improved” or “very much improved” category was not statistically significant.
The new findings, which appear online in Pediatrics, are similar to what has been seen in older children who take this medication for ADHD.
About 3% to 5% of children and adults in the U.S have ADHD, which stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It’s a behavioral disorder marked by impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and inattention.
Unlike many other medications used to treat ADHD, Straterra is not a stimulant. Instead, it works by boosting levels of the brain chemical norepinephrine, which helps reduce impulsive behavior and hyperactivity and increases attention span.
Slideshow: ADHD in Children