Similar efficacy to Ritalin in young animals without the side effect of psychostimulation
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood, estimated to affect 3 to 5 percent of school-age children. Its core symptoms include developmentally inappropriate levels of attention, concentration, activity, distractibility, and impulsivity.
Children with ADHD usually have functional impairment across multiple settings that have been shown to have long-term adverse effects on academic performance, vocational success, and social-emotional development. The mainstay of current treatment regimens are psychostimulants including amphetamine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), and pemoline.
The psychostimulants are efficacious in ADHD however there is a serious abuse potential with long-term administration and concern over side effects. There is a need for an ADHD drug that can modulate the attention deficit without causing other behavioral problems and with minimal or no addiction potential.
