Nomifensine maleate in adult attention deficit disorder

The authors studied 18 adults (8 men and 10 women) in an open trial of nomifensine maleate for the treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD). All patients met DSM-III criteria and the Utah criteria for ADD, residual type (RT). Medication effect was measured at week 1 and week 4 of treatment using the Structured Interview for ADD-H Symptoms. Data from week 4 showed that all eight men and seven of the women responded well to nomifensine, showing a significant decrease in ADD with hyperactivity symptoms. Side effects were minimal, consisting of drowsiness, dry mouth, headache, and nausea. One responder (5%) was taken off the medicine after developing an allergic reaction. Results showed that short-term use of nomifensine was relatively free from side effects and was remarkably effective in the treatment of ADD-RT. The authors discussed the implications of the use of nomifensine and related drugs in the treatment of ADD-RT.