Alternative (nonstimulant) medications in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children.
Medication to treat ADHD must be seen as part of a multimodal approach that includes education, counseling, behavioral management, and family work along with the medication. If in addition to ADHD the patient has other psychiatric disorders, they also must be treated. The stimulant medications are still the first choice in treating ADHD. Should there be reasons why they cannot be used, the TCAs become the second line of treatment. Other alternative medications such as buproprion, clonidine, and guanfacine also can be considered. This article provides information and guidelines for the use of the alternative, nonstimulant medications to treat ADHD. These medications can be used separately or in combination to reduce the primary behaviors of ADHD and comorbid conditions. The reader is encouraged to refer to reviews of the pharmaceutical company literature and the Physician's Desk Reference before initiating treatment with any of these medications.
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Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic