New Medications For the Treatment of ADHD
In the last year the F.
D.
A.
has approved the use of Daytrana, which is the methylphenidate skin patch designed to be used with children between the ages of six and twelve years of age.
Effective up to 12 hours, the most significant advantage of this approach concerns the fact that the patch can be removed at any point in time to help fine tune and adjust the dosage of the medication.
This can be helpful on weekends and vacations.
The Daytrana patch is also potentially useful to children who have difficulty swallowing pills, as the patch is usually placed on the hip, and is barely noticed by the vast majority of children.
Focalin is another fairly recently released medication which has been shown to be quite effective with both adults and children aged six to twelve.
Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate), is made up of a more selective and precise stimulant compound than other ADHD medications, and is purported to have fewer side effects, able to be administered at a much smaller dose for the same benefit, and is also sold in time release preparations that work for up to twelve hours.
Vyvanse is another new medication that is similar to Adderall and Dexamphet-amine, but has a much lower abuse potential due to the fact that it is absorbed through the stomach and cannot be inhaled to achieve a euphoric effect.
In addition, the efficacy of Vyvanse is for a full twelve hours, and is soluble in liquids, and therefore can be mixed with juice or water for those children who have difficulty taking pills.
A drug in the final stages of development called Intuniv is being touted as a new alternative to the stimulant preparations.
It actually is a new use of the current hypertensive medication Tenex, and has shown to be efficacious in enhancing auditory working memory, screening out distractions, as well as reducing impulsivity.
Finally, Stratterra continues to be used with success by more child psychiatrists and family physicians in those circumstances when a stimulant medication is contraindicated, such as for those individuals with cardiac problems, bipolar or tic disorders, or with those who show a propensity for substance abuse.
D.
A.
has approved the use of Daytrana, which is the methylphenidate skin patch designed to be used with children between the ages of six and twelve years of age.
Effective up to 12 hours, the most significant advantage of this approach concerns the fact that the patch can be removed at any point in time to help fine tune and adjust the dosage of the medication.
This can be helpful on weekends and vacations.
The Daytrana patch is also potentially useful to children who have difficulty swallowing pills, as the patch is usually placed on the hip, and is barely noticed by the vast majority of children.
Focalin is another fairly recently released medication which has been shown to be quite effective with both adults and children aged six to twelve.
Focalin (Dexmethylphenidate), is made up of a more selective and precise stimulant compound than other ADHD medications, and is purported to have fewer side effects, able to be administered at a much smaller dose for the same benefit, and is also sold in time release preparations that work for up to twelve hours.
Vyvanse is another new medication that is similar to Adderall and Dexamphet-amine, but has a much lower abuse potential due to the fact that it is absorbed through the stomach and cannot be inhaled to achieve a euphoric effect.
In addition, the efficacy of Vyvanse is for a full twelve hours, and is soluble in liquids, and therefore can be mixed with juice or water for those children who have difficulty taking pills.
A drug in the final stages of development called Intuniv is being touted as a new alternative to the stimulant preparations.
It actually is a new use of the current hypertensive medication Tenex, and has shown to be efficacious in enhancing auditory working memory, screening out distractions, as well as reducing impulsivity.
Finally, Stratterra continues to be used with success by more child psychiatrists and family physicians in those circumstances when a stimulant medication is contraindicated, such as for those individuals with cardiac problems, bipolar or tic disorders, or with those who show a propensity for substance abuse.
