Preliminary Investigation on Duloxetine Efficacy in the Treatment of Children With Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Background: Stimulants are first-line agents for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite the impressive track record of stimulants in the treatment of ADHD, they fail in 25% of patients due to lack of efficacy or the emergence of unwanted side effects. Objectives: In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of duloxetine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, in the treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Patients and Methods: In an open label clinical trial, 13 children aged 6 – 11 years diagnosed with ADHD were prescribed 30 mg/day duloxetine once daily by oral administration for six weeks. Conners Parent Rating Scale-Revised-Short form (CPRS-R-S) and the ADHD Rating Scale were used to assess the efficacy of the treatment. Results: Ten children with a mean age of 8.40 ± 1.67 years terminated the trial. A significant reduction in CPRS-R and its subscales was evident from week four of the study. In terms of side effects, duloxetine was generally safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: This preliminary assessment suggests that duloxetine may be a medication of interest in the treatment of children with ADHD. Further controlled studies with larger samples are required to evaluate the efficacy of duloxetine in treatment of children with ADHD.