Therapeutic agents for attention deficit disorders

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a syndrome that affects young children, manifesting itself through inappropriate behaviours and learning difficulties and persisting in many instances into adulthood. Treatment with stimulants, such as methylphenidate, is often sufficient but carries with it some risk for the emergence of unwanted side effects that can influence compliance, particularly with children. Newer agents and novel mechanisms for achieving control of the symptoms associated with ADHD are proposed in recent patents and applications and are presented in this review.

• α-adrenergics
• attention deficit disorder
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• dopaminergics
• histamine
• nicotine
• stimulants