MedicineAbout the MedicineFDA Approval in ChildrenResearchers found that in children and teens:
Stimulants
 Examples include:
  • Mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall®, Adderall XR®)
  • Methylphenidate (Concerta®, Focalin®, Focalin XR®, Metadate CD®, Metadate ER®, Methylin®, Methylin ER®, Ritalin®, Ritalin LA®, Ritalin SR®)
  • Stimulants are approved by the FDA to treat ADHD.
  • Some health care professionals also use them to treat DBDs.
  • Stimulants can be short acting (work for 4 to 6 hours) or long acting (work for 8 to 12 hours).
Approved for children aged 6 and olderStimulants may improve disruptive behavior.*
Nonstimulant ADHD medicines
  • Atomoxetine (Strattera®)
  • Guanfacine ER (Intuniv®)
  • Atomoxetine (Strattera®) and guanfacine ER (Intuniv®) are approved by the FDA to treat ADHD.
  • Some health care professionals also use them to treat DBDs.
Approved for children aged 6 and olderAtomoxetine and guanfacine ER improve disruptive behavior.
Anticonvulsant medicine
  • Divalproex (Depakene®, Depakote®, Depakote ER®)
  • The anticonvulsant medicine divalproex (Depakene®, Depakote®, Depakote ER®) is approved by the FDA to treat seizures.
  • Some health care professionals also use it to treat DBDs.
Approved for use in children, but should be used with extreme caution in children under the age of 2Divalproex may improve aggression.*
Antipsychotics
 Examples include:
  • Aripiprazole (Abilify®)
  • Risperidone (Risperdal®)
  • Ziprasidone (Geodon®)
  • Antipsychotics are approved by the FDA to treat people with psychosis (a type of mental illness).
  • Some health care professionals also use antipsychotics to treat DBDs. Taking these medicines does not mean your child or teen has a psychosis.
Approved for children aged 6 and olderAntipsychotics improve disruptive behavior in the short term.†

ADHD = attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; FDA = U.S. Food and Drug Administration

*

More research is needed to know this for sure.

†

More research is needed to know how well antipsychotics work in the long term (for longer than 6 months).

From: Treating Disruptive Behavior Disorders in Children and Teens

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