Combined methylphenidate and atomoxetine pharmacotherapy in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

• Published in: The world journal of biological psychiatry Vol. 16; no. 8; pp. 619 - 624
• Main Authors: Ozbaran, Burcu, Kose, Sezen, Yuzuguldu, Onur, Atar, Burcu, Aydin, Cahide
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 17-11-2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; atomoxetine; Atomoxetine Hydrochloride - adverse effects; Atomoxetine Hydrochloride - therapeutic use; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Central Nervous System Stimulants - adverse effects; Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use; Child; combined therapy; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Headache - etiology; Humans; Male; methylphenidate; Methylphenidate - adverse effects; Methylphenidate - therapeutic use; pharmacotherapy; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; combined therapy; methylphenidate; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; atomoxetine; pharmacotherapy
• DOI: 10.3109/15622975.2015.1051109
• EISSN: 1814-1412
• ISSN: 1562-2975

Objectıves. Pharmacological treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) includes stimulant and non-stimulant medications. Our purpose in this study is to investigate efficacy, safety and tolerability of combined methylphenidate and atomoxetine pharmacotherapy. Methods. We included 12 patients of the 824 patients with ADHD using methylphenidate and atomoxetine combined therapy between the years 2010 and 2014. Kiddie-SADS, Turgay DSM-IV Based Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders Screening and Rating Scale, Child Behavior Checklist, Clinic Global Impression Scale Severity and Impression (CGIS-S-I) scales were used. Results. Patients were between the ages of 7 and 17 years. Before combined pharmacotherapy the CGIS-S score mean was 5.08. Mean CGIS-S score after the combined pharmacotherapy was 3.08 (P = 0.03; -2,980). The most common side effects were irritability (n = 5, 41.6%), appetite reduction (n = 3, 25%), palpitations (n = 2, 16.7%), headache (n = 1, 8.3%). Conclusıons. Nine of these 12 patients showed significant improvement in their symptoms, combined therapy enhanced the effectiveness of monotherapy.