Metilfenidato de liberación prolongada 50/50 (medikinet®) dos veces al día, estudio abierto prospectivo

The first study in which an 8 hours extended release methylphenidate 50/50 (medikinet®) is given twice a day to children is presented. As an open prospective study 60 consecutive admissions to a child psychiatric consultation that need methylphenidate from 8 to 21 hours and were not suitable to be given a short action methylphenidate (4 hours), where offered medikinet® twice a day with the following posology: a fixed dose of 30 mg in breakfast (8:00 hours) and either 10 mg (n=34) or 20 mg (n=6) at evening (15:00 hours). There were no significant differences between the 40 patients included in the study and the 20 patients that refused medikinet® twice a day. Patients were either moderate or severe in symptoma tology according to the 20 items Conners Scale for teachers (>45). At week 8 complete remission were reached for 63% patients (syndromic one for 12.5% , symptomatic one for 25% and functional one for 22,5%) Furthermore, 27,5% reached partial remission (decrease of at least 25% of symptoms). Scores in all subscales for Eyberg, Conners (Parents and Teachers) were reduced till level of normal population (except for conduct subscale of Teachers´) in a statistical significant level (p<0.05). Due to insomnia 2 patients reduced doses of 50/50- MTF to 10 mg and 3 drew up medikinet in the evening.