title: Effects of FDA advisories on the pharmacologic treatment of ADHD, 2004-2008.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the effect of public health advisories issued between 2005 and 2007 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on treatments of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and physician prescribing practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data obtained from the IMS Health National Disease and Therapeutic Index, a nationally representative audit of ambulatory physicians, were used to examine trends in office visits by children and adolescents (under age 18) during which ADHD was treated with Adderall, other psychostimulants, or atomoxetine. Segmented time series regressions were conducted to determine changes in use associated with three advisories issued between 2005 and 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2004, before the first FDA advisory, Adderall accounted for 36% of ADHD pharmacotherapy treatment visits. Other stimulants accounted for 46%, and atomoxetine accounted for 19%. Overall pharmacotherapy treatment rates were stable over the study period, but by 2008 the treatment visits accounted for by Adderall (that is, market share) declined to 24%, and the market share for atomoxetine declined to 8%. The market share for substitute therapies-clonidine, guanfacine, and bupropion-was stable over this period, ranging from 5% to 7%. Despite the declines in the use of Adderall and atomoxetine over the study period, results from the regression models suggest that the advisories did not have a statistically significant effect on ADHD medication prescribing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FDA advisories regarding potential cardiovascular and other risks of ADHD medications had little discernible incremental effect on the use of these medicines in this nationally representative ambulatory audit.
authors: Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Westside Research Office Bldg., 1747 West Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60608, USA. rkornfie@uic.edu
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Kornfield
authors: Sydeaka
authors: S
authors: Watson
authors: Ashley S
authors: AS
authors: Higashi
authors: Rena M
authors: RM
authors: Conti
authors: Stacie B
authors: SB
authors: Dusetzina
authors: Craig F
authors: CF
authors: Garfield
authors: E Ray
authors: ER
authors: Dorsey
authors: Haiden A
authors: HA
authors: Huskamp
authors: G Caleb
authors: GC
authors: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004363:Drug Utilization; D016316:Guanfacine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011437:Propylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: C090411:Adderall; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000662:Amphetamines; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D011437:Propylamines; D016642:Bupropion; D016316:Guanfacine; D000069445:Atomoxetine Hydrochloride; D003000:Clonidine