title: Pilot Study of Droxidopa With Carbidopa in Adults With ADHD.
abstract: We conducted a two-period (open-label and double-blind) pilot investigation of droxidopa, with and without carbidopa, for ADHD.
  
  
  
  Twenty adult ADHD patients received open-label droxidopa titrated from 200 to 600 mg 3 times per day (TID; Weeks 1-3), then open-label droxidopa plus carbidopa titrated from 25 or 50 mg TID (Weeks 4-6). In Weeks 7 to 8, patients were randomized to continued co-treatment or matching placebo substitution.
  
  
  
  Improvements in mean total Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Report Scale (AISRS) scores were seen at Week 1 ( p < .0001) and Week 3 ( p < .0001). Improvements were maintained but not increased with carbidopa. Thirteen of 20 patients completed open-label treatment. In the double-blind period, mean total AISRS scores were similar between the co-treatment ( n = 6) and placebo ( n = 5) groups. No serious adverse events were reported.
  
  
  
  These preliminary findings indicate that droxidopa can improve adult ADHD symptoms. Further studies are warranted to examine the efficacy and safety of droxidopa in ADHD.
authors.affiliation: 1 New York University Langone Medical Center, New York City, USA.|2 VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York City, USA.
authors.forename: Lenard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.affiliation: 3 Lundbeck NA Ltd., Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Gorny
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002230:Carbidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015103:Droxidopa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015103:Droxidopa; D002230:Carbidopa
keywords: ADHD; adults; carbidopa; droxidopa; norepinephrine