On the CGI-I scale , the analysis revealed that MPH was more effective than ATX and GXR .
For any adverse events , RBX ( 89 % ) was the safest alternative .
Network meta- analysis offered a broader overview on the available treatments for ADHD , especially for safety issues , and contributes towards evidence gathering and clinical practice decisions .
The aim of this study is to gather evidence of head-to-head double-blind r and omized-controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of available treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) in children and adolescents .
Efficacy of theophylline compared to methylphenidate for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a pilot double-blind randomized trial.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) is a common disorder of childhood that affects 3 - 6 % of school children . Conventional stimulant medications are recognized as useful symptomatic treatments by both specialists and parents . Nevertheless , approximately 30 % of ADHD children treated with them do not respond adequately or can not tolerate the associated adverse effects . Such difficulties highlight the need for alternative , safe and effective medications in the treatment of this disorder . Theophylline is a psychomotor stimulant most widely used as a broncodilator . Purinergic modulation may be therapeutically beneficial in the treatment of psychiatric disorders . We hypothesized that theophylline would be beneficial for the treatment of ADHD and report results of a trial of theophylline compared with methylpheni date for the treatment of ADHD . A total of 32 children with ADHD as defined by DSM IV were r and omized to theophylline and methylpheni date dosed on an age and weight-adjusted basis at 4 mg/kg/day ( under 12 years ) and 3 mg/kg/day theophylline ( over 12 years ) ( group 1 ) and 1 mg/kg/day methylpheni date ( group 2 ) for a 6-week double-blind and r and omized clinical trial . The principal measure of the outcome was the Teacher and Parent ADHD Rating Scale . Patients were assessed by a child psychiatrist , at baseline and at 14 , 28 and 42 days after start of the medication . No significant differences were observed between theophylline and methylpheni date on the Parent and Teacher Rating Scale scores over the trial ( t = 0.49 , d.f . = 24 P = 0.62 and t = 0.19 , d.f . = 24 P = 0.54 respectively ) . Although the number of dropouts in the methylpheni date group was higher than the theophylline group , there was no significant difference between the two protocol s in terms of the dropouts . In addition , headaches were observed more often in the methylpheni date group . The results suggest that theophylline may be a useful for the treatment of ADHD . In addition , a tolerable side-effect profile is one of the advantages of theophylline in the treatment of ADHD . Nevertheless , our study is small and our results would need to be confirmed in a larger study
On the CGI-I scale , the analysis revealed that MPH was more effective than ATX and GXR .
For any adverse events , RBX ( 89 % ) was the safest alternative .
Network meta- analysis offered a broader overview on the available treatments for ADHD , especially for safety issues , and contributes towards evidence gathering and clinical practice decisions .
The aim of this study is to gather evidence of head-to-head double-blind r and omized-controlled trials on the efficacy and safety of available treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD ) in children and adolescents .