Monday, May 16, 2016

New stimulant options for treating ADHD

     There are three new options for treating ADHD. Each of these are new forms of two stimulant medications previously available, methylphenidate and amphetamine. The new medications are Dynavel XR, Evekeo, and QuilliChew ER. All of these are Controlled (CII) Prescriptions.
     Dynavel XR is a liquid form of amphetamine. It is the first liquid form of the medication in Adderall, Adderall XR, and Vyvanse. It is taken once daily with breakfast. It is expected to last about 12 hours. A syringe and special bottle allow for accurate dosing. The medication is bubblegum flavored. We have found that children who responded well to an amphetamine product but struggled to swallow a pill previously needed to open up an Adderall XR or Vyvanse capsule and swallow the small beads in the capsule on applesauce. The availability of Dynavel XR allows these children to swallow a liquid medicine instead.
     Evekeo is a shorter-acting amphetamine tablet. It lasts 4-6 hours and most children will need to take it 2-3 times in a day: once in the morning, once at the lunch hour, and potentially once in the late afternoon so they can get through homework or other activities. The tablets are scored to that the 5 or 10 mg pills can be split into smaller doses of 2.5 or 5 mg. This allows for flexible dosing.
     QuilliChew ER is a long-acting chewable methylphenidate product. It is the same medication as in Quillivant liquid and Concerta tablets. The medication is expected to last long enough throughout the day that the average child will need just one dose. Occasionally, someone might need a second dose of QuilliChew ER or another medication to get them through homework or late-day/evening activities. QuilliChew ER is cherry flavored.
     These new medications add options for children with ADHD. Feel free to discuss these with your doctor if your child has ADHD.
   

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