| In the last year the F.D.A.has approved the use of | | | | Vyvanse is another new medication that is similar to |
| Daytrana, which is the methylphenidate skin patch | | | | Adderall and Dexamphet-amine, but has a much lower |
| designed to be used with children between the ages | | | | abuse potential due to the fact that it is absorbed |
| of six and twelve years of age. Effective up to 12 | | | | through the stomach and cannot be inhaled to achieve |
| hours, the most significant advantage of this approach | | | | a euphoric effect. In addition, the efficacy of Vyvanse |
| concerns the fact that the patch can be removed at | | | | is for a full twelve hours, and is soluble in liquids, and |
| any point in time to help fine tune and adjust the | | | | therefore can be mixed with juice or water for those |
| dosage of the medication. This can be helpful on | | | | children who have difficulty taking pills. |
| weekends and vacations. The Daytrana patch is also | | | | A drug in the final stages of development called Intuniv |
| potentially useful to children who have difficulty | | | | is being touted as a new alternative to the stimulant |
| swallowing pills, as the patch is usually placed on the | | | | preparations. It actually is a new use of the current |
| hip, and is barely noticed by the vast majority of | | | | hypertensive medication Tenex, and has shown to be |
| children. | | | | efficacious in enhancing auditory working memory, |
| Focalin is another fairly recently released medication | | | | screening out distractions, as well as reducing |
| which has been shown to be quite effective with both | | | | impulsivity. |
| adults and children aged six to twelve. Focalin | | | | Finally, Stratterra continues to be used with success |
| (Dexmethylphenidate), is made up of a more selective | | | | by more child psychiatrists and family physicians in |
| and precise stimulant compound than other ADHD | | | | those circumstances when a stimulant medication is |
| medications, and is purported to have fewer side | | | | contraindicated, such as for those individuals with |
| effects, able to be administered at a much smaller | | | | cardiac problems, bipolar or tic disorders, or with those |
| dose for the same benefit, and is also sold in time | | | | who show a propensity for substance abuse. |
| release preparations that work for up to twelve hours. | | | | |