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Bupropion versus methylphenidate in the treatment of children with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder: randomized double‐blind study
Author(s) -
Jafarinia Morteza,
Mohammadi MohammadReza,
Modabbernia Amirhossein,
Ashrafi Mandana,
Khajavi Danial,
Tabrizi Mina,
Yadegari Noorollah,
Akhondzadeh Shahin
Publication year - 2012
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.2242
Subject(s) - methylphenidate , bupropion , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , psychology , attention deficit disorder , psychiatry , randomized controlled trial , medicine , pathology , smoking cessation
Objective To compare the safety and efficacy of bupropion with methylphenidate in children and adolescents with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods In a 6‐week randomized double‐blind study, 44 patients with a DSM‐IV‐TR diagnosis of ADHD were randomly assigned to receive bupropion 100–150 mg/day (100 mg/day for <30 kg and 150 mg/day for >30 kg) or methylphenidate 20–30 mg/day. Symptoms were assessed using Teacher and Parent Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale‐IV (ADHD‐RS‐IV) at baseline and weeks 3 and 6. Results Forty patients had at least one post‐baseline measurement, and 38 patients completed the trial. No significant difference was found between the two groups on the Parent and Teacher ADHD‐RS‐IV scores ([ F (1, 38) = 0.266, p = 0.609] and [ F (1, 38) = 0.001, p = 0.972], respectively). By week 6, 18 patients (90%) in each group achieved response on the Parent scale (Fisher's exact test p ‐value = 1.0). With the Teacher ADHD‐RS‐IV used, eight (40%) patients in the bupropion group and 12 (60%) patients in the methylphenidate group achieved response by week 6 ( χ 2 (1) = 1.600, p = 0.206). Headache was observed more frequently in the methylphenidate group. Frequency of other side effects was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Bupropion has a comparable safety and efficacy profile with methylphenidate in children and adolescents with ADHD. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.