Ritalin Dose in Adults with ADHD – pro
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurobiological condition affecting 5-8 percent of school age children,with symptoms persisting into adulthood in as many as 60 percent of cases (i.e. approximately 4% of adults). Appreciation of this fact has markedly increased the number of adults with take medication for ADHD, such as Ritalin or Adderall. Among other controversies in this field, is the dose of Ritalin. Prescribing information says:”Administer in divided doses 2 or 3 times daily, preferably 30 to 45 minutes before meals. Average dosage is 20 to 30 mg daily. Some patients may require 40 to 60 mg daily. In others, 10 to 15 mg daily will be adequate.”
Froehlich, T.E., Lanphear, B.P., Epstein, J.N., et al. Prevalence, recognition, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a national sample of US children. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (2007), 161:857-864.
Kessler, R.C., Adler, L., Barkley, R., Biederman, J., et al. The prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD in the United States: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Am Journal of Psychiatry (2006), 163:724-732.
D. J. Nutt Evidence-based guidelines for management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents in transition to adult services and in adults: recommendations from the British Association for Psychopharmacology J Psychopharmacol January 2007 vol. 21 no. 1 10-41
Dose of methylphenidate during service transition for adults with ADHD Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology June 1, 2011 1: 71-75
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