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Methylphenidate may help improve symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents, according to a Cochrane meta-analysis published in the BMJ.
Researchers analyzed the results of 185 randomized trials comparing methylphenidate with placebo in 12,000 patients aged 3 to 21 years with ADHD. Few trials lasted more than 6 months.
Methylphenidate was associated with clinically meaningful improvement in teacher-reported ADHD symptoms. More than a quarter of patients experienced non-serious adverse events — most commonly loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping — but there was no elevated risk for serious adverse events.
The authors note that all trials had a high risk for bias. Therefore, they say that the magni…