Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of single-dose amphetamine formulations in ADHD

Objective: To compare the efficacy and time course of single morning doses of Adderall (R), extended-release, and immediate-release dextroamphetamine sulfate. Method: Thirty-five children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, combined type, were given Adderall, immediate-release dextroamphe tamine, dextroamphetamine Spansuless, and placebo in a randomized, double-b lind, crossover study. Behavior ratings, locomotor activity measurements, a nd academic measures were obtained over a period of 8 weeks. Results: All t hree drugs exhibited robust efficacy versus placebo on nearly all measures. The effects of dextroamphetamine Spansules were less robust in the morning , particularly compared with Adderall, but they lasted 3 to 6 hours longer, depending on the measure. Although parent behavior ratings and locomotor a ctivity showed improvements up to 12 hours after single doses of all three drugs, the number of math problems attempted and completed correctly 4 hour s after dosing were only robustly increased by Spansules. Conclusions: Both immediate-release amphetamines demonstrated earlier onset of effects, but dextroamphetamine Spansules showed more sustained effects that were present on a wider range of measures.