QTc prolongation after ADHD medication.

OBJECTIVE: Multicenter studies have shown that cardiovascular risks of ADHD medication are extremely low. However, QTc length has been shown to be increased in smaller samples of patients or case reports after stimulant and atomoxetine medication. Based on recent studies of genetic polymorphisms associated with drug-induced QTc prolongation and polymorphisms linkage to regional populations, we hypothesized that the drug-induced QTc prolongation could be a factor of particular polymorphisms linked to specific regional populations undistinguished in multicenter studies. METHODS: We included 69 patients from a region of central Slovakia, 36 patients were taking atomoxetine and 33 patients methylphenidate. QTc, heart rate, potassium levels and BMI were examined before and after 8 weeks of treatment. Therapeutic effect was measured by ADHD-RS-IV. RESULTS: We found QTc prolongation after 8 weeks of treatment both with atomoxetine and methylphenidate that was neither followed by the significant changes in BMI and potassium levels nor the significant increase of heart rate. CONCLUSION: This is the first study revealing QTc prolongation in the group of ADHD children from the same region after 8-week treatment with atomoxetine and methylphenidate, indicating the potential discrete abnormalities in cardiac functioning associated with polymorphisms in genes of dopaminergic and noradrenergic system.

Anxiety reduction on atomoxetine and methylphenidate medication in children with ADHD.

BACKGROUND: Atomoxetine and methylphenidate are widely used to treat attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with similar effectiveness after 8 weeks of treatment, when atomoxetine has reached its a full effect. Both drugs have also been shown to have an effect on comorbid anxiety. To the best of our knowledge, no study has compared their effect on the dynamics of anxiety symptom reduction. The aim of this study was to compare the medication effect on core and comorbid anxiety symptom dynamics in children with ADHD. METHODS: Sixty-nine patients participated in the study: 36 patients were taking atomoxetine and 33 patients, methylphenidate. Therapeutic effect on core symptoms of ADHD was measured on the ADHD-rating scale IV, and symptoms of anxiety were measured using the Conners Parent Rating Scale (CPRS). Symptoms were measured prior to and every 2 weeks during 8 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in CPRS anxiety subscale score in both medication groups. Anxiety subscale score was significantly lower in the atomoxetine group in the fourth week, and lasted through to 8 weeks of medication. CONCLUSION: Both atomoxetine and methylphenidate reduced the symptoms of ADHD and anxiety. Atomoxetine was more effective in anxiety symptom reduction from the fourth week of treatment.

The Effect of Methylphenidate on Neurological Soft Signs in ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: Neurological soft signs are very common in children with the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the first line medication of this disorder is methylphenidate. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of methylphenidate on the neurological soft signs in children and adolescents suffering from ADHD depending on the dose of methylphenidate. METHODS: Thirty five patients with ADHD were investigated by the ADHD RS-IV parent version questionnaire and the Revised Neurological Examination for Subtle Signs before treatment adjustment and after four weeks of methylphenidate medication. The changes in hyperactivity symptomatology, neurological soft signs during therapy and the influence of the methylphenidate dose were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A significant decrease in hyperactivity symptomatology was found after one month of methylphenidate medication (p=0.0001) and significant decrease in neurological soft signs was demonstrated in 21 from a total of 26 items (p<0.05). Correlation analysis showed no relationship between the dose of methylphenidate and the improvement of neurological soft signs. Similarly, the improvement of ADHD symptomatology had not correlation with the improvement of neurological soft signs. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the positive effect of methylphenidate on neurological soft signs in which improvement occurred independently of the dose, indicating that their progress may be due to methylphenidate treatment of any dose. The unrelated effect of methylphenidate on the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and neurological soft signs suggest that methylphenidate might be useful in the therapy of clumsy child syndrome and in ADHD treatment of non-responders.