Open-label trial of venlafaxine in adults with attention deficit disorder

Antidepressants or stimulants are commonly used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD). We report the results of an open-label trial of the recently marketed antidepressant venlafaxine in 16 adult patients with ADD. Patients were treated with venlafaxine (25 to 225 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Four patients discontinued treatment within the first week because of sedation, agitation, or nausea. In the remaining 12 patients, venlafaxine treatment decreased ADD ratings by almost half.