Aripiprazole for ADHD
A systematic review examined the effect of aripiprazole on ADHD. Only 2 RCTs (randomized controlled trials) were found.1 No controlled study found an efficacy of aripiprazole on ADHD symptoms. Efficacy of aripiprazole on ADHD was only found in non-controlled studies. There was a very high rate of side effects such as
- Weight gain
- Sedation
- Headaches reported.
One study compared the effects of aripiprazole and risperidone in children with ADHD and comorbid ASD.
Both drugs showed a comparable improvement in ADHD symptoms without serious side effects; aripiprazole showed a reduction in prolactin levels.2
One study found a positive effect of a combination therapy of aripiprazole and methylphenidate in children with comorbid DMDD and ADHD. Increased side effects were not found.3
Ghanizadeh (2013): Systematic review of clinical trials of aripiprazole for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2013 Oct;18(4):323-9. PMID: 24141455. ↥
Lamberti, Siracusano, Italiano, Alosi, Cucinotta, Di Rosa, Germanò, Spina, Gagliano (2ß16): Head-to-Head Comparison of Aripiprazole and Risperidone in the Treatment of ADHD Symptoms in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHD: A Pilot, Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Study. Paediatr Drugs. 2016 Aug;18(4):319-29. doi: 10.1007/s40272-016-0183-3. PMID: 27278054. n = 44 ↥
Pan, Fu, Yeh (2018): Aripiprazole/Methylphenidate Combination in Children and Adolescents with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An Open-Label Study. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2018 Dec;28(10):682-689. doi: 10.1089/cap.2018.0068. PMID: 30148656. n = 24 ↥