Do children and adolescents with ADHD respond differently to atomoxetine?
OBJECTIVE
Controversy exists over changes in tolerability and response to medications across the life span. Here the authors report data contrasting the efficacy and tolerability of atomoxetine between children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


METHODS
Data were analyzed for children ages 6-11 (510 atomoxetine, 341 placebo) and adolescents ages 12-17 (107 atomoxetine, 69 placebo) with DSM-IV-defined ADHD enrolled in similarly designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Efficacy measures included response rates, times to response, and mean changes from baseline to endpoint in the ADHD Rating Scale, Conners' Parent Rating Scale, and Clinical Global Impressions.


RESULTS
Adolescents had lower baseline ADHD scores compared with children. There were no statistically significant differences in the overall effects on ADHD symptoms, response rates, or time to response between age groups. Children, but not adolescents, had higher rates of somnolence and headache relative to placebo. No other clinically meaningful treatment differences were seen in adverse event rates, vital signs, weight, height, laboratory values, or ECG between children and adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute atomoxetine treatment appears to be equally effective and tolerated in children and adolescents. These findings suggest that pharmacological differences in tolerability or ADHD symptom response are negligible between children and adolescents.
Wilens
Timothy E
TE
Dr. Wilens is with Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Dr. Kratochvil is with Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha; Dr. Newcorn is with Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York; and Dr. Gao is with Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis. Electronic address: twilens@partners.org.
Kratochvil
Christopher
C
Dr. Wilens is with Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Dr. Kratochvil is with Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha; Dr. Newcorn is with Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York; and Dr. Gao is with Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis.
Newcorn
Jeffrey H
JH
Dr. Wilens is with Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Dr. Kratochvil is with Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha; Dr. Newcorn is with Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York; and Dr. Gao is with Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis.
Gao
Haitao
H
Dr. Wilens is with Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Dr. Kratochvil is with Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha; Dr. Newcorn is with Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York; and Dr. Gao is with Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis.
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011437:Propylamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012449:Safety
D011437:Propylamines; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride