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ADHD Meds: Dex Leads in Weight Loss, Both Ease Symptoms
17 Jul
Summary
- Dexamphetamine caused greater weight loss than methylphenidate.
- Both medications substantially improved ADHD symptoms in children.
- No significant difference was observed in height growth between the two drugs.
A new study highlights key differences in ADHD treatments for children, with dexamphetamine causing more weight loss than methylphenidate over the first year. Researchers found that both medications were effective in substantially improving attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms.
The Australian study, involving 100 children who had not previously taken these stimulants, indicated that dexamphetamine users lost an average of 3 pounds in the first three months, compared to just over 0.6 pounds for methylphenidate users. This weight loss factor is important when selecting treatments and monitoring a child's growth.
However, the study observed no significant variations in how the medications affected children's height development. After a year of treatment, most participants continued with their initial prescribed stimulant, suggesting a similar level of satisfaction with both dexamphetamine and methylphenidate.
Globally, an estimated 47 million individuals under 20 lived with ADHD in 2021. In the United States, approximately 12% of those aged 3 to 17 have an ADHD diagnosis, while in Australia, this figure is about 8%. Australia has seen a nearly 2.5-fold increase in ADHD medication prescriptions for individuals under 18 over the past decade.
