Effect of a Multilayer, Extended-Release Methylphenidate Formulation (PRC-063) on Sleep in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Fixed-Dose, Placebo-Controlled Trial Followed by a 6-Month Open-Label Follow-Up

J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2021 Nov;31(9):623-630. doi: 10.1089/cap.2021.0087. Epub 2021 Oct 28.

Abstract

Objectives: We analyzed patient-reported sleep parameters for an extended-release methylphenidate formulation (PRC-063) in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Methods: Clinical efficacy and long-term safety/tolerability data from a 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose study (NCT02139111) and a subsequent 6-month, optimized-dose, open-label extension (OLE) study (NCT02168127) were used. In the double-blind study, participants were randomly assigned 1:1:1:1:1 to one of four doses of PRC-063 (25, 45, 70, or 85 mg/day) or placebo. In both the double-blind and OLE studies, sleep outcomes were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: During double-blind treatment, no statistically significant least-squares mean difference in change from baseline between PRC-063 (all doses combined; N = 293) and placebo (N = 74) was found for either global PSQI score (-0.3 vs. -0.5; p = 0.6110) or scores for any of the seven PSQI subscales. Compared with the placebo group, a marginally higher proportion of patients in the PRC-063 group (all doses combined) went from being poor to good sleepers (global PSQI score ≤5; 14.4% vs. 11.3%). In a logistic regression analysis, study treatment was not a predictor of poor sleep (p = 0.5368) at the end of the double-blind study. In the OLE study, there was a trend of improvement in sleep after 1 month of individualized dosing that was maintained through 6 months. Sleep efficiency (time asleep as a proportion of time in bed) showed improvement at the end of the OLE study. Conclusion: While individual patients may experience changes in sleep as an adverse event, group data evaluating sleep as an outcome found there were no differences between PRC-063 and placebo in self-reported sleep outcomes on the PSQI.

Keywords: ADHD; adolescents; extended-release methylphenidate; sleep effects.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / drug therapy
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants* / adverse effects
  • Delayed-Action Preparations / therapeutic use
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Methylphenidate* / adverse effects
  • Sleep
  • Sleep Quality
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Methylphenidate

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02139111
  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02168127