Desipramine appeared more efficacious than clonidine in reducing ADHD symptoms as rated by parents ( SMD -0.90 , 95 % CI -1.40 to -0.40 , 1 trial , 68 participants , very low quality evidence ) in participants with ADHD and comorbid tics or Tourette syndrome .
Although this Cochrane Review did not identify serious adverse effects in patients taking TCAs , it did identify mild increases in diastolic blood pressure and pulse rates .
Also , patients treated with desipramine had significantly higher rates of appetite suppression compared to placebo whilst nortriptyline result ed in weight gain .
Other reported adverse effects included headache , confusion , sedation , tiredness , blurred vision , diaphoresis , dry mouth , abdominal discomfort , constipation , and urinary retention .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Most evidence on TCAs relates to desipramine .
Findings suggest that , in the short term , desipramine improves the core symptoms of ADHD , but its effect on the cardiovascular system remains an important clinical concern .
BACKGROUND Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood onset , which may persist into adulthood .
ADHD has a significant impact on a child 's daily life , affecting relationships and academic performance .
Its core symptoms include developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention , hyperactivity , and impulsive behaviour .
Tricyclic antidepressants ( TCAs ) are sometimes used as second line of treatment in the reduction of ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents with ADHD .
However , their efficacy is not yet known .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of TCAs in the reduction of ADHD symptoms within the broad categories of hyperactivity , impulsivity , and inattentiveness in young people aged 6 to 18 years with established diagnoses of ADHD .
Clonidine extended-release tablets for pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
OBJECTIVE This study examined the efficacy and safety of clonidine hydrochloride extended-release tablets ( CLON-XR ) in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) . METHOD This 8-week , placebo-controlled , fixed-dose trial , including 3 weeks of dose escalation , of patients 6 to 17 years old with ADHD evaluated the efficacy and safety of CLON-XR 0.2 mg/day or CLON-XR 0.4 mg/day versus placebo in three separate treatment arms . Primary endpoint was mean change in ADHD Rating Scale-IV ( ADHD-RS-IV ) total score from baseline to week 5 versus placebo using a last observation carried forward method . Secondary endpoints were improvement in ADHD-RS-IV inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscales , Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised : Long Form , Clinical Global Impression of Severity , Clinical Global Impression of Improvement , and Parent Global Assessment from baseline to week 5 . RESULTS Patients ( N = 236 ) were r and omized to receive placebo ( n = 78 ) , CLON-XR 0.2 mg/day ( n = 78 ) , or CLON-XR 0.4 mg/day ( n = 80 ) . Improvement from baseline in ADHD-RS-IV total score was significantly greater in both CLON-XR groups versus placebo at week 5 . A significant improvement in ADHD-RS-IV total score occurred between groups as soon as week 2 and was maintained throughout the treatment period . In addition , improvement in ADHD-RS-IV inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity subscales , Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised : Long Form , Clinical Global Impression of Improvement , Clinical Global Impression of Severity , and Parent Global Assessment , occurred in both treatment groups versus placebo . The most common treatment-emergent adverse event was mild-to-moderate somnolence . Changes on electrocardiogram were minor and reflected the known pharmacology of clonidine . CONCLUSIONS Clonidine hydrochloride extended-release tablets were generally well tolerated by patients in the study and significantly improved ADHD symptoms in this pediatric population
Desipramine appeared more efficacious than clonidine in reducing ADHD symptoms as rated by parents ( SMD -0.90 , 95 % CI -1.40 to -0.40 , 1 trial , 68 participants , very low quality evidence ) in participants with ADHD and comorbid tics or Tourette syndrome .
Although this Cochrane Review did not identify serious adverse effects in patients taking TCAs , it did identify mild increases in diastolic blood pressure and pulse rates .
Also , patients treated with desipramine had significantly higher rates of appetite suppression compared to placebo whilst nortriptyline result ed in weight gain .
Other reported adverse effects included headache , confusion , sedation , tiredness , blurred vision , diaphoresis , dry mouth , abdominal discomfort , constipation , and urinary retention .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Most evidence on TCAs relates to desipramine .
Findings suggest that , in the short term , desipramine improves the core symptoms of ADHD , but its effect on the cardiovascular system remains an important clinical concern .
BACKGROUND Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood onset , which may persist into adulthood .
ADHD has a significant impact on a child 's daily life , affecting relationships and academic performance .
Its core symptoms include developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention , hyperactivity , and impulsive behaviour .
Tricyclic antidepressants ( TCAs ) are sometimes used as second line of treatment in the reduction of ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents with ADHD .
However , their efficacy is not yet known .
OBJECTIVES To assess the efficacy of TCAs in the reduction of ADHD symptoms within the broad categories of hyperactivity , impulsivity , and inattentiveness in young people aged 6 to 18 years with established diagnoses of ADHD .