Is methylphenidate an effective treatment for children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and does it cause unwanted effects?
Key messages
- Methylphenidate might reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity and might help children to concentrate. Methylphenidate might also help to improve general behaviour, but does not seem to affect quality of life.
- Methylphenidate does not seem to increase the risk of serious (life-threatening) unwanted effects when used for periods of up to six months. However, it is associated with an increased risk of non-serious unwanted effects like sleeping problems and decreased appetite.
- Future studies should focus more on reporting unwanted effects and should take place over longer periods of time.