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Atomoxetine (ATM), a selective norepinephrine transporter inhibitor that did not meet expectations as an antidepressant was later found to be effective for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Extensive marketing for its ADHD indication began in 2002. Comparisons to methylphenidate (MPH), which was first introduced to the U.S. market in the 1950s, would help clinicians to make informed medication decisions.
This meta-analysis of nine studies, eight of which were manufacturer-sponsored, compared ATM with MPH in both immediate-release (IR) and long-acting, osmotically released (OROS) formulations in children with ADHD (age range, 6–16 years). A scale based on parent interviews was the primary outcome.
OROS MPH (but not IR MPH) was s…