Acute impact of immediate release methylphenidate administered three times a day on sleep in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of immediate release Ritalin, given three times a day, on sleep quality and quantity in medication-naïve, newly diagnosed children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS Children (aged 6-12) rigorously diagnosed with ADHD (n = 21) underwent multiple measurement assessments (i.e., actigraphy, sleep diary, and questionnaires) during a 1-week baseline and then during a 3-week blinded randomized medication trial. RESULTS Although the medication was effective in reducing ADHD symptoms, analyses of actigraphy and sleep diary data found statistically and clinically significant changes in the children's total sleep time and sleep onset latency in the medication compared to the no medication conditions. No effects on sleep were found based on the sleep questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS Physicians and parents are encouraged to closely monitor children's sleep when treating ADHD with stimulant medication.