Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of clonidine in hyperactive children with mental retardation.
A 12-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oral clonidine in three fixed doses (4, 6, and 8 mcg/kg/day) using a crossover design was conducted with 10 children who had hyperkinetic disorder (mean age 7.6 years +/-.54). All had comorbid mental retardation. Both parents' ratings on the Parent Symptom Questionnaire and clinicians' ratings on the Hillside Behaviour Rating Scale showed a marked dose-related response to clonidine in hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. Drowsiness was a common side effect of clonidine. It wore off by the 2nd to 4th week in most cases. Thus, clonidine is a safe and effective medication in young hyperkinetic children with comorbid mental retardation.
Agarwal
V
V
Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical College, Lucknow (U.P.), India.
Sitholey
P
P
Kumar
S
S
Prasad
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D003000:Clonidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment
D003000:Clonidine