Bupropion versus methylphenidate in the treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: randomized double-blind study
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental,
Clinical Article
Jafarinia M et al. – Bupropion has a comparable safety and efficacy profile with methylphenidate in children and adolescents with attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
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.
- 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.
