Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 1997 May;36(5):589-96.
doi: 10.1097/00004583-199705000-00008.

Controlled stimulant treatment of ADHD and comorbid Tourette's syndrome: effects of stimulant and dose

F X Castellanos  1 , J N Giedd, J Elia, W L Marsh, G F Ritchie, S D Hamburger, J L Rapoport
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Controlled stimulant treatment of ADHD and comorbid Tourette's syndrome: effects of stimulant and dose

F X Castellanos et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1997 May.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effects of methylphenidate (MPH) and dextroamphetamine (DEX) on tic severity in boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) comorbid with Tourette's syndrome.

Method: A 9-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover using a wide range of doses was completed by 20 subjects in three cohorts.

Results: Relatively high doses of MPH and DEX in the first cohort produced significant increases in tic severity which were sustained on higher doses of DEX but which attenuated on MPH. Overall, 14 of 20 subjects continued stimulant treatment for 1 to 3 years, generally in combination with other psychotropics. Stimulant-associated adverse effects, including tic exacerbations, were reversible in all cases.

Conclusion: A substantial minority of comorbid subjects had consistent worsening of tics on stimulants, although the majority experienced improvement in ADHD symptoms with acceptable effects on tics. MPH was better tolerated than DEX.

PubMed Disclaimer

Publication types

MeSH terms