New Drug Promises to Help Kids with ADHD
The findings are published in the Nov. 5 issue of Pediatrics.
Pediatric behavioral specialist Daniel Coury, MD, says atomoxetine may prove to be a good choice for children who experience unacceptable side effects on Ritalin. Tic disorders -- uncontrollable muscle movements especially in the face -- have been reported as one such side effect. Since the new drug works through different chemical pathways, Coury says, tics should not be a problem.
"This drug may also be more acceptable to parents, because it is a nonstimulant medication," Coury tells WebMD. "While doctors know these [stimulant] drugs to be effective and safe when prescribed properly, much of the public is very leery of them."
So leery, in fact, that the controversy continues to grow over whether ADHD drugs are being over-used. One study found that the drugs are prescribed five times as often today as they were just a decade ago.
Coury says the evidence is overwhelming that children with ADHD need to be on medication. But he adds that many children and adolescents are being placed on the drugs when they should not be, because of misdiagnosis.
"Many children who don't have ADHD and who might benefit from other treatments are immediately being placed on medication," he says. "When you have an accurate diagnosis there is no question that medication plus behavioral intervention is the best treatment."