Beyond methylphenidate: nonstimulant medications for youth with ADHD.
OBJECTIVE
This review was conducted to provide information on nonstimulant medications used to treat ADHD.


METHODS
Previous investigations on several groups of nonstimulant medications were reviewed, and a discussion of antidepressants, antihypertensives, atypical antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and cholinergic agents is included.


RESULTS
The results of this review provide information on several viable options of treatment in situations in which the use of a stimulant would be inappropriate or in situations in which stimulants have provided limited effectiveness.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite their viability as alternatives, each type of medication has certain limitations, side effects, and varying amounts of research available to substantiate its use for the treatment of ADHD. These medications offer several potentially successful options to those who fail to respond to stimulants or to those who find the side effects of stimulants bothersome.
Wood
Jamie G
JG
Department of Psychology and Counseling, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS 66762 USA. jwood@pittstate.edu
Crager
Jessica L
JL
Delap
Christopher M
CM
Heiskell
Kelly D
KD
D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018678:Cholinergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018678:Cholinergic Agents; D008774:Methylphenidate