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Observational Study
. 2013 Sep;23(7):440-7.
doi: 10.1089/cap.2012.0086. Epub 2013 Sep 11.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drugs and growth: an Italian prospective observational study

Elena A P Germinario  1 , Romano Arcieri, Maurizio Bonati, Alessandro Zuddas, Gabriele Masi, Stefano Vella, Flavia Chiarotti, Pietro Panei; Italian ADHD Regional Reference Centers
Collaborators, Affiliations
Observational Study

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drugs and growth: an Italian prospective observational study

Elena A P Germinario et al. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2013 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the long-term effect of methylphenidate (MPH) or atomoxetine (ATX) on growth in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug-naïve children.

Design: The study was an observational, post-marketing, fourth phase study.

Methods: Data on height and weight were collected at baseline and every 6 months up to 24 months.

Results: Both ATX and MPH lead to decreased height gain (assessed by means of z-scores); the effect was significantly higher for ATX than for MPH. At any time, height z-score decrease in the ATX group was higher than the corresponding decrease observed in the MPH group, but the difference was significantly relevant only during the first year of treatment. An increment of average weight was observed both in patients treated with MPH and in those treated with ATX. However, using Tanner's percentile, a subset of patients showed a degree of growth lower than expected. This negative effect was significantly higher for ATX than for MPH.

Conclusions: We conclude that ADHD drugs show a negative effect on linear growth in children in middle term. Such effect appears more evident for ATX than for MPH.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Flow chart of patients at 6 months of follow-up. The figure reports the number of patients included in weight and height analysis, stratified for each group of treatment (methylphenidate group, atomoxetine group). The reasons for which the patients were excluded from analysis were also reported.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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