Anxiety reduction on atomoxetine and methylphenidate medication in children with ADHD

While difficulties with attention and hyperactivity define ADHD, many with ADHD also struggle with anxiety.

Strattera and Ritalin are both commonly used to treat ADHD in children. Previous studies have established their effectiveness in reducing ADHD symptoms.

This study wanted to compare the effectiveness of Strattera and Ritalin over time in reducing anxiety symptoms as well.

Researchers conducted a small clinical trial, randomly assigning children to take either Strattera or Ritalin. They measured their anxiety symptoms and ADHD symptoms every two weeks during the eight weeks of the study.

Both Ritalin and Strattera were linked with reductions in anxiety. The reduction in both groups was highly statistically significant compared to their starting point. However, we cannot confirm that the medication caused this effect because the study did not have a placebo control group.

The data does show that those taking Strattera experienced a greater reduction in their ADHD symptoms compared to those taking Ritalin.

As expected, children in both groups experienced improvements in their ADHD symptoms, consistent with previous studies.

This study provides valuable information comparing Ritalin and Strattera's ability to reduce anxiety symptoms. The data shows that Strattera may be more effective than Ritalin for anxiety in children with ADHD.

This is useful in helping parents and clinicians decide on which medication to start their children on. This study suggests that Strattera may be a good option if a patient has significant anxiety.

Because of the lack of a control group, we cannot confirm the effectiveness of the medication based on the data above. However, previous studies have shown that both medications can reduce ADHD symptoms.