To the Editor: Recently, Chemali et al.1 showed that psychostimulants can accelerate the emergence from propofol anesthesia as evidenced by a faster recovery of the righting reflex and by signs of electroencephalogram activation after the injection of methylphenidate during propofol infusion. The authors believe that methylphenidate can be safely used in a clinical setting to facilitate the awa...

The findings in a CMAJ research article by Lisa Strohschein on methylphenidate use among Canadian children are likely to be misinterpreted because of the methodology used and the author’s interpretation of the data. Strohschein used survey data indicating whether divorce occurred in participating Canadian households at any point from 1994 to 2000 to categorize families as those in which the par...

OBJECTIVE Methylphenidate has prominent effects in the dopamine-rich striatum that are absent for the selective norepinephrine transporter inhibitor atomoxetine. This study tested whether baseline striatal activation would predict differential response to the two medications in youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD A total of 36 youth with ADHD performed a Go/No-G...

This study investigated whether methylphenidate is effective in improving response inhibition in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children with ADHD were compared with normally developing children on measures of response inhibition. Participants with ADHD were compared across two conditions--medicated and unmedicated. There was no significant difference between the...

Methylphenidate remains the first choice treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but comorbid forms with Disruptive Behaviour Disorders (DBD) are undertreated. Methylphenidate adjunction is sometimes necessary in order to treat ADHD-related symptoms in DBD behaviors initially well-regulated with risperidone. In these situations, psychostimulant-antipsychotic combinations ...

The present study compared the efficacy of ACTH 4-9 analog, methylphenidate, and placebo on attention deficit disorder with 30 (HK) children with attention deficit disorder and psychometric measurements. HK children were randomly placed into three groups, according to body weight, and treated with placebo, methylphenidate, and adrenocorticotropic hormone fractions (ACTH 4-9 analog). The results...

The prevalence of methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine misuse and abuse was examined in 450 adolescents referred for substance abuse treatment. Twenty three percent reported nonmedical use of these substances and six percent were diagnosed as methylphenidate or dextroamphetamine abusers. Abuse was more common in individuals who were out of school and had an eating disorder. Methylphenidate and...

BACKGROUND Animal models of ADHD suggest that the paradoxical calming effect of methylphenidate on motor activity could be mediated through its action on serotonin transmission. In this study, we have investigated the relationship between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) and the response of ADHD relevant behaviors with methylphenidate treatment. METHODS Pat...

Background Animal studies and case reports have suggested that methylphenidate exerts adverse effects on gonadal hormones. This study aimed to determine whether methylphenidate alters testosterone levels in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder through comparison of those with or without methylphenidate treatment. Methods This 4-week, nonrandomized, prospective study conducte...

Complete understanding of the neural mechanisms by which stimulants such as methylphenidate ameliorate attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is lacking. Theories of catecholamine function predict that the neural effects of stimulant drugs will vary according to task requirements. We used event-related, pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of 60 mg ...