Adult ADHD
Visual Abstract
Double-blind controlled trial of venlafaxine for treatment of adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Venlafaxine for Adult ADHD
Shahrokh Amiri , Sara Farhang, Mohammad Ali Ghoreishizadeh, Ayyoub Malek, Soleiman Mohammadzadeh
Summarized by:
April 23, 2023
study source
Hum Psychopharmacol
Jan 2012
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What they studied
This study wanted to examine whether venlafaxine, a treatment used for depression and anxiety, could reduce ADHD symptoms.
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What they found
Adults given venlafaxine were likelier to experience declines in their ADHD symptoms, though no significant difference in average symptom scores was found.
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What this means
While more research is needed, the data does suggest that venlafaxine may help reduce ADHD symptoms in adults with ADHD.
Double-blind controlled trial of venlafaxine for treatment of adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Objectives
ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric conditions in children and adults. It is typically treated with therapy and medication, most notably stimulants and Strattera. These medications have been shown to be effective.
However, many with ADHD may not fully respond to these medications, and some may not tolerate them due to their side effects.
There is still a need for alternative treatment options for adults with ADHD.
This study wanted to see whether venlafaxine, a generally safe medication approved for anxiety and depression disorders, could also reduce ADHD symptoms.
Study Quote
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders beginning in childhood that may continue to adulthood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible therapeutic effect of venlafaxine in adults with ADHD.
Methods
Researchers ran a small clinical trial that provided venlafaxine to 21 adults with ADHD and compared the results to 20 adults who received a placebo control.
Study Quote
In a double-blind setting, drug-naïve adults with a diagnosis of ADHD based on DSM-IV-TR criteria were randomly selected to receive either venlafaxine (up to 225 mg/day) or a placebo for 6 weeks. The Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale self-report screening version was administered before an...
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Results
Overall, both the control group and the treatment groups experienced decreases in their ADHD symptoms; however, no significant difference between the groups was found in terms of ADHD symptom scores.
A second analysis did show that those who received venlafaxine were more likely to experience a reduction in their symptoms:
This suggests that venlafaxine may increase the odds that someone experiences improvement in their ADHD symptoms.
The chart below shows ADHD symptoms over time in the study. The improvements from venlafaxine only became apparent later in the study, suggesting that the medication takes some time to work.
A small study of Venlafaxine found that more patients on Venlafaxine achieved a reduction in ADHD symptoms after 6 weeks
There was no evidence of serious side effects, consistent with the safety profile of venlafaxine, an approved medication.
Study Quote
The mean age (SD) of patients was 30.5 (8.1) years. Eleven out of 20 patients receiving venlafaxine and 13 out of 21 patients receiving the placebo were male. The two groups were not significantly different in terms of age, educational level, weight, or blood pressure. Significant decrea...
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Conclusions
While the effect of venlafaxine on ADHD symptoms did not reach statistical significance, there was still evidence that venlafaxine may work for ADHD.
Those who received venlafaxine were far more likely to experience a significant improvement in their ADHD symptoms.
This was a small trial that lasted only a short amount of time. It is possible that a larger trial may find a more significant effect of venlafaxine; however, more research will be needed.
Study Quote
In this double-blind trial, the symptoms of adult ADHD decreased after a 6-week trial of either venlafaxine or a placebo with no significant difference. However, a significant treatment response defined as a 25% drop in ADHD index (measured by a self-report scale) was achieved by venlafa...
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