A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic study comparing a single morning dose of adderall to twice-daily dosing in children with ADHD.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of once-daily versus twice-daily doses of Adderall.

METHOD:

Following a 1-week wash-out, 12 subjects with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) entered a double-blind crossover study comparing two conditions: QD (10 mg of Adderall at 7:30 a.m. and placebo at noon) or BID (10 mg of Adderall at 7:30 a.m. and at noon). At two sites, cohorts of six subjects each were assessed on two different days by a 12-hour laboratory school protocol. Plasma concentrations of d- and l-amphetamine, vital signs, teacher ratings of classroom behavior on the SKAMP, and 10-minute Math Test performance were measured repeatedly over 12 hours. An analysis of variance used center, subject-within-center, condition, and time-after-second-dose as independent variables.

RESULTS:

The pharmacokinetic profiles revealed similar morning concentrations of d- and l-amphetamine. However, concentrations were twice as high in the afternoon for BID as QD. The two conditions showed similar pharmacodynamic profiles in the morning, although improvement in math performance and behavior was maintained into the afternoon only in the BID condition (p <.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study suggests that twice-daily dosing of Adderall may be an effective strategy for afternoon control of attention and deportment for children with ADHD.

• Authors: Laurence L Greenhill, James M Swanson, Ken Steinhoff, Jane Fried, Kelly Posner, Marc Lerner, Sharon Wigal, Susan B Clausen, Yuxin Zhang, Simon Tulloch
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry) Vol. 42 Issue 10 Pg. 1234-41 (Oct 2003) ISSN: 0890-8567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14560174 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adderall
• Amphetamines
• Central Nervous System Stimulants

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Amphetamines (administration & dosage, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
• Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (drug therapy)
• Central Nervous System Stimulants (administration & dosage, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
• Child
• Female
• Humans
• Male