An Open-Label, Randomized Trial of Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine Treatment in Adults With ADHD
Hsing-Chang Ni1,2,3, Yu-Ju Lin1,2,4, Susan Shur-Fen Gau1,2
11 National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Objective:
To directly compare the efficacy of methylphenidate and atomoxetine in improving symptoms, social functions, and quality of life among adults with ADHD.
Method:
This was an 8-to-10-week, open-label, head-to-head, randomized clinical trial with two treatment arms: immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-methylphenidate; n = 31) and atomoxetine once daily ( n = 32). The outcome measures included ADHD symptom severity, quality of life, and functional impairments.
Results:
We found a significant reduction in overall ADHD symptoms and improvement in social functions and quality of life for both groups at Weeks 4 to 5 and Weeks 8 to 10. There was no significant difference in the slope of improvements over time except that atomoxetine was superior to IR-methylphenidate in reducing hyperactive/impulsive symptoms at Weeks 4 to 5. There was no significant group difference in the rates of adverse effects.
Conclusion:
Both IR-methylphenidate and atomoxetine are well tolerated and efficacious in ethnic Chinese adults with ADHD.
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