Efficacy and safety of methylphenidate in treating ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents with uncontrolled seizures: A Brazilian sample study and literature review

Abstract Objective Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is observed in 30% of children and adolescents with epilepsy. Recent studies have demonstrated the safety of methylphenidate (MPH) in patients with controlled epilepsy. There are few studies of patients with uncontrolled epilepsy. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsy & behavior 2011-07, Vol.21 (3), p.228-232
Main Authors: Koneski, Julio A.S, Casella, Erasmo B, Agertt, Fábio, Ferreira, Maria Gabriela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - complications
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and comorbidity
Behavior
Brazil - epidemiology
Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use
Child
Drug Evaluation
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Methylphenidate
Methylphenidate - therapeutic use
Neurology
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Seizures - complications
Seizures - drug therapy
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Abstract Objective Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is observed in 30% of children and adolescents with epilepsy. Recent studies have demonstrated the safety of methylphenidate (MPH) in patients with controlled epilepsy. There are few studies of patients with uncontrolled epilepsy. The goal was to study the efficacy and safety of MPH use in children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and uncontrolled epilepsy. Methods We evaluated 24 patients ranging from 7 to 16 years of age who took MPH for 6 months. Inclusion criteria were at least two epileptic seizures in the previous 6 months and a diagnosis of ADHD based on DSM-IV criteria. Conclusion Patients were classified according to ADHD subtype as follows: 41.7% inattentive type, 37.5% combined, and 20.8% hyperactive/impulsive type; 58.3% had partial epilepsy and 41.7% generalized epilepsy. There was an overall improvement in ADHD symptoms in 70.8% of patients, and there was no increase in frequency of epileptic seizures in 22 patients (91.6%).
ISSN:1525-5050
1525-5069
DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.02.029