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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Teenagers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two- to four-times more likely to be involved in car collisions than other drivers. Stimulant drug options can improve driving performance for teens with ADHD, but some are more effective than others, reveals a new study.
With several different stimulant drug treatments on the market, researchers at University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Va., set out to determine if controlled-release and extended-release drugs have different effects on driving performance in teens with ADHD.
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Past studies suggest stimulants commonly used to treat ADHD can help improve driving performance in this group.
In this study, researchers compared the effects of OROS MPH (Concerta), a controlled-release drug, to the extended-release drug se-AMPH ER (Adderall XR). Both treatments are long-acting stimulants used to treat ADHD.
Teens in the study took their medication in the morning and used a driving simulator in the evening to test their skills. Those treated with Concerta experienced fewer inattentive and impulsive driving errors than those treated with Adderall XR or a placebo.
The researchers say Concerta should be the initial treatment of choice for teen drivers with ADHD. Study authors suggest, however, teens already taking Adderall XR should not necessarily switch medications if they are experiencing beneficial effects from the drug.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2006;118:e704-e710
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