Drug prescription for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs in pediatric outpatients: A retrospective survey of Japanese administrative data (2012-2018)

Asian J Psychiatr. 2021 Mar:57:102512. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102512. Epub 2021 Jan 15.

Abstract

We aimed to clarify the prescription trend of ADHD drugs in Japanese pediatric outpatients. From January 2012 to December 2018, we evaluated the trends of prescribing methylphenidate-osmotic-controlled release oral delivery system (OROS), atomoxetine, and guanfacine as monotherapy. In boys, methylphenidate-OROS and atomoxetine prescriptions decreased from 46.5 % to 37.2 % and 18.6 % to 15.6 %, respectively. Prescriptions of guanfacine increased from 0.0 % to 12.3 %. In girls, the methylphenidate-OROS prescriptions was not significantly different (37.0 % to 26.4 %); however, atomoxetine decreased from 23.1 % to 16.3 %, and guanfacine increased from 0.0 % to 12.8 %. Methylphenidate-OROS and atomoxetine prescriptions changed to guanfacine between 2012 and 2018.

Keywords: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Guanfacine; Pediatric; Prescription; Prevalence.

MeSH terms

  • Atomoxetine Hydrochloride / therapeutic use
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / drug therapy
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants* / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Drug Prescriptions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Methylphenidate*
  • Outpatients
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Methylphenidate
  • Atomoxetine Hydrochloride