UVA Researchers Find Not All Drugs Are Equal In Treating Teen Drivers With ADHD

Researchers at the University of Virginia Health System have found that teenage drivers with attention deficit hyper activity disorder (ADHD) drive better when they
took OROS methylphenidate (OROS MPH), a controlled-release stimulant,
rather than extended release amphetamine salts (se-AMPH ER). The findings,
which reinforce the use of OROS MPH to improve driving performance in teens
with ADHD, will appear in the Sept. issue of "Pediatrics."



"Car collisions are two to four times more likely to occur among teens
with ADHD. Past studies have shown that stimulants commonly used to treat
ADHD can help improve driving performance among this group," said Daniel
Cox, Ph.d., lead author and professor of psychiatric medicine at the
University of Virginia Health System. "However, there are many different
formulations of stimulant drugs to treat ADHD and parents need to know
which ones will have the best positive effect."



In previous studies, Cox and his team set out to determine whether
immediate-release and extended release drug formulations influence driving
performance throughout the day. They found that OROS MPH (Concerta)
compared with immediate-release methylphenidate (Ritalin) was better at
improving driving performance. The OROS technology uses osmotic pressure to
deliver the drug at a controlled rate.



In this study, researchers compared Concerta to se-AMPH ER (Adderall
XR). Both are long-acting stimulants used to treat ADHD. Using a driving
simulator, teen drivers between 16 and 19 years of age, displayed their
driving skills after taking Concerta, Adderall XR or placebo. Study
participants took their medications at 8 a.m. They came to the driving
simulator laboratory and completed 15-minute simulated drives at 5 p.m., 8
p.m. and 11 p.m. Driving performance was determined by sophisticated
computer algorithms.



Researchers found that treatments with Concerta led to fewer
inattentive driving errors and less hyperactive or impulsive driving
errors, such as speeding and inappropriate braking, compared with Adderall
XR and placebo.



"This was the first study of its kind to demonstrate that OROS
methylphenidate has therapeutic benefits among teens for up to 15 hours,"
said Cox. "We hope these results encourage teens to be vigilant in taking
their medication as prescribed to help contribute to their driving safety
and help them appreciate the benefits of stimulant therapy."



"The study suggests that Concerta should be the initial treatment of
choice for teen drivers with ADHD, though teens already on Adderall XR
should not necessarily switch medications if they demonstrate a robust
therapeutic response," according to Cox.



In addition, accidents occur most frequently in the evenings and on
weekends, meaning parents should not necessarily limit medication use to
school days.


University of Virginia Health System

healthsystem.virginia/


View drug information on Adderall XR; Concerta; Ritalin LA.