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Amantadine versus methylphenidate in children and adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized, double‐blind trial
Author(s) -
Mohammadi MohammadReza,
Kazemi MohammadReza,
Zia Ebtehal,
Rezazadeh ShamsAli,
Tabrizi Mina,
Akhondzadeh Shahin
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.1154
Subject(s) - methylphenidate , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , randomized controlled trial , amantadine , rating scale , psychology , population , clinical trial , pediatrics , attention deficit disorder , medicine , psychiatry , developmental psychology , environmental health , neuroscience
Objective The aim of the present study was to further evaluate, under double blind and controlled conditions, the efficacy of amantadine for attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents as compared to methylphenidate. Methods This was a 6‐week randomized clinical trial. Forty patients (28 boys and 12 girls) with a DSM‐IV‐TR diagnosis of ADHD were the study population of this trial. All study subjects were randomly assigned to receive the treatment using capsule of amantadine at a dose of 100–150 mg/day depending on weight (100 mg/day for <30 kg and 150 mg/day for >30 kg) or methylphenidate at a dose of 20–30 mg/day for a 6‐week double blind, randomized clinical trial. The principal measure of outcome was the Teacher and Parent Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Rating Scale‐IV. Results No significant differences were observed between the two groups on the Parent and Teacher Rating Scale scores (df = 1; F = 0.02; p = 0.86 and df = 1; F = 0.01; p = 0.89, respectively). Side effects of decreased appetite and restlessness were observed more frequently in the methylphenidate group. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that amantadine significantly improved symptoms of ADHD and was well tolerated and it may be beneficial in the treatment of children with ADHD. Nevertheless, the present results do not constitute proof of efficacy. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.