Alpha-2 agonists for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in youth: a systematic review and meta-analysis of monotherapy and add-on trials to stimulant therapy
Publication Date
2014
Journal Title
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To meta-analyze the efficacy and safety of alpha-2 agonists in pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHOD: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO until May 2013 for randomized trials comparing alpha-2 agonists with placebo in ADHD youth. Primary outcome was reduction in overall ADHD symptoms. Secondary outcomes included hyperactivity/impulsivity, inattentiveness, oppositional defiant disorder symptoms (ODD symptoms), all-cause discontinuation, specific-cause discontinuation, and adverse effects. Standardized mean differences (SMD), relative risk (RR), and number-needed-to-treat/number-needed-to-harm (NNT/NNH) were calculated. Data were analyzed separately in monotherapy and as add-on to psychostimulants. RESULTS: Altogether, 12 studies (N = 2,276) were included. Across 9 studies (n = 1,550), alpha-2 agonist monotherapy significantly reduced overall ADHD symptoms (SMD = -0.59, p < .00001), hyperactivity/impulsivity (SMD = -0.56, p < .00001), inattention (SMD = -0.57, p < .00001), and ODD symptoms (SMD = -0.44, p = .0004). Similarly, alpha-2 agonist add-on treatment (3 studies, n = 726) significantly reduced overall ADHD symptoms (SMD = -0.36, p < .0001), hyperactivity/impulsivity (SMD = -0.33, p < .0001), and inattention (SMD = -0.34, p < .0001), but effect sizes were lower than in monotherapy trials (p = .03-0.04). As monotherapy, alpha-2 agonists had lower all-cause (RR = 0.70, p = .01, NNT = 10) and inefficacy-related (RR = 0.39, p < .0001) discontinuations than did placebo; however, intolerability-related discontinuation was similar, despite significantly more common fatigue (NNH = 10), sedation (NNH = 17), and somnolence (NNH = 4) and significantly greater hypotensive (clonidine-IR), bradycardic (clonidine-IR), and QTc prolonging (guanfacine-XR) effects. Added to stimulants, alpha-2 agonists had all-cause and specific-cause discontinuations that were comparable to those of placebo, but somnolence (NNH = 10) was more common, and hypotensive and bradycardic effects (clonidine-XR and guanfacine-XR) were greater than with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: alpha-2 Agonist monotherapy and, possibly to a lesser extent, co-treatment, are significantly superior to placebo for overall, hyperactivity, and inattentive ADHD symptoms. Efficacy advantages need to be balanced against fatigue, somnolence/sedation, hypotension, bradycardia, and possibly QTc prolongation.
Volume Number
53
Issue Number
2
Pages
153-73
Document Type
Article
EPub Date
2014/01/30
Status
Faculty, Northwell Researcher
Facility
School of Medicine; Northwell Health
Primary Department
Psychiatry
Additional Departments
Molecular Medicine
PMID
DOI
10.1016/j.jaac.2013.11.009