Teens who use abuse prescription drugs such as narcotic painkillers are more likely to have sex or to participate in risky sexual behaviors, a new study suggests…The study looked at a variety of prescription drugs that might be used recreationally by teens. These included the prescription painkillers Oxycontin, Vicodin, Percocet or codeine; sedatives such as…

Media reports on the subject have often adopted a position of over diagnosis and over prescribing but the evidence does not stack up. UK health watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence estimates that ADHD affects 5% of the childhood population, yet diagnostic prevalence fluctuates between 3% and 5% depending on which part…

A new study provides some of the strongest evidence yet that using an antidepressant like Prozac, Paxil or Zoloft during the final two trimesters of pregnancy may be linked to a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder for the child…The JAMA Pedatrics research adds to the growing number of studies about antidepressant and developmental delays,…

The FDA has approved a chewable tablet form of extended-release methylphenidate, to be sold as QuilliChew ER, for treatment of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to manufacturer Pfizer.

Warning: a new study concludes that drugs such as Concerta, Adderall and Vyvanse lead to worse sleep in children. But, parents who are considering whether to treat your child’s ADHD with stimulant medication, don’t let the results scare your pants off. In fact, put them back on and continue reading.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) is commonly prescribed to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but a new analysis finds children taking it are more likely to have sleep problems and decreased appetite, among other issues…We asked a noted expert in ADHD treatment, Andrew Adesman, MD, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children’s…

Many adults have residual symptoms of ADHD, often involving the inattentive form of the disorder, and these symptoms can really interfere with holiday demands. There’s lots of stress around the holiday crunch of course. And with ADHD, there may also be problems with multi-tasking, keeping organized, staying focused on details, and ignoring distractions…Here are a…

Not all medications are alike, particularly when it comes to drugs for the treatment of ADHD. The FDA weighed in on the generic for Concerta back in 2014,1 and now a case series has shown that the generic methylphenidate extended release (ER) formulation that incorporates osmotic controlled-release oral-delivery system (OROS) technology may provide better, longer…

Adverse social aspects and life events were more likely to be associated with epilepsy…with self-reported diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder also more common in epilepsy patients. Additionally, it was shown that a screening tool for ADHD symptoms was a more successful method of diagnosing the condition in these patients than…

Iron, a common mineral (and, paradoxically, a common mineral deficiency in humans) is important to the brain and vital for normal brain development and human behavior. It is a key cofactor in the making of neurotransmitters, chemicals in the brain that affect neuron signaling, including serotonin, norepinephrine, and especially dopamine. Iron is also necessary for…

Neuroscientists at UMass Medical School have discovered a molecular braking mechanism for the brain chemical dopamine that may lead to more effective treatments for some forms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other mental health disorders in which abnormal dopamine function plays a central role

Many elementary school children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) don’t get services like medication and behaviour therapy that might improve their condition, according to an Australian study. The condition’s impact on the family and the child’s age are the biggest determinants of whether parents tap into available services, researchers found