Pharmacotherapy for Adult ADHD

Lenard A. Adler, M.D.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved 3 medications, atomoxetine and the extended-release formulations of amphetamine salts and dexmethylphenidate, for the treatment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Different formulations of the same drugs, as well as other agents and cognitive-behavioral therapy, have been tested to determine efficacy in ADHD alone and in ADHD with comorbid substance use disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. A deficit in research exists in regard to these comorbidities in adults with ADHD

(J Clin Psychiatry 2009;70[5]:e12. doi:10.4088/JCP.7129br5c)

Departments of Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine and NYU Langone Medical Center, and Psychiatry Service, VA Harbor Healthcare System, New York.