The first drug for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that can be taken at bedtime could soon be available in Britain.
Experts say it could be a better option for children than other medications that contain stimulants, which increase heart rate and can be addictive.
The drug, called clonidine hydrochloride, was approved in the US last week for children aged six and older and is taken in liquid or tablet form.
Stimulant medications commonly used to treat ADHD work by increasing activity in the areas of the brain that control attention and behavior. As a result, most medications should be taken in the morning or in two or three doses throughout the day. However, if taken too late, they can disrupt sleep.
Clonidine hydrochloride is a non-stimulant drug that can, however, be taken at night. According to the manufacturer, Tris Pharma, Onyda XR can be combined with stimulants or used alone and should be widely available in the US later this year.
The first drug for ADHD that can be taken at bedtime could soon be available in Britain and even made available to children because it is not addictive (Stock Image)
Doncaster-based GP Dr. Dean Eggitt said the new drug has the potential to greatly benefit treatment in the future.
He told The Mail on Sunday: ‘ADHD drugs are currently powerful stimulants and therefore addictive. Not only are they addictive, but if they stimulate you, they can cause changes in your heart rate and side effects such as weight loss. Therefore, they require very close supervision.
‘The fact that this new drug does not have that stimulant effect and does not cause a faster heart rate means that it does not require such intensive monitoring, making it much more widely available for use. If it is less toxic and less addictive, it sounds like a brilliant new drug.”
Clonidine hydrochloride was developed from an older drug that was used 50 years ago to treat high blood pressure. The main ingredient clonidine has been used to treat severe pain in cancer patients.
Britain is experiencing a national shortage of ADHD medication – with the government blaming ‘increased global demand’ and ‘production issues’.
According to ADHD UK, around 150,000 people reported problems accessing their medication in February.