In Children and Adolescents (Ages 6-17) With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), How Does Viloxazine Extended-Release (ER) Compare with Placebo or Other ADHD Medications in Terms of Improving ADHD Symptoms, Adverse Events and Treatment Discontinuation Rates? A Systematic Review

TL;DR

This study reviews how effective and safe viloxazine ER is for treating ADHD in children and adolescents compared to placebo or other medications.

Contribution

The study provides a systematic review of viloxazine ER's efficacy and safety profile in ADHD treatment for children and adolescents.

Findings

Viloxazine ER is effective in managing ADHD symptoms compared to placebo at 10–12 weeks.

Viloxazine ER has a low rate of mild to moderate side effects like decreased appetite, somnolence, and headache.

Treatment discontinuation rates are similar to other ADHD medications.

Abstract

Aims: In this systematic review, the effectiveness and safety of viloxazine ER in the treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents aged between 6–17 years will be assessed.

Methods: This review identified articles through a systematic approach using PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Randomized controlled trials with viloxazine ER in an active comparator condition versus placebo or other stimulant/non-stimulant ADHD drugs were included.

The first set of outcomes for assessing efficacy was a decrease in the severity of ADHD symptoms as measured by the ADHD-RS-5 and CGI-I scales. Safety outcomes comprised comparability in the rates of adverse events and treatment discontinuation rates.

Results: A meta-analysis showed that viloxazine ER is effective in managing ADHD symptoms compared with placebo at 10–12 weeks. Very few side effects were reported with this medication and those reported were mostly mild to moderate in nature. Mild side effects were noted to be decreased appetite, somnolence, and headache. The rates of treatment disappearance were similar compared with other oral ADHD drugs.

Conclusion: The research implies that viloxazine ER may be useful to paediatric patients with ADHD as a new treatment approach. We hypothesize that its profile of being an NRI and 5-HT2B antagonist may be beneficial for patients who have not shown sufficient improvement with more common treatments. The use of once daily dosing of the extended release formulation may enhance compliance compared with drugs taken more than once per day.

In a general manner, viloxazine ER seems to be a safe and efficacious therapy in children and adolescents affected by ADHD. Because it has a unique mechanism of action and can be taken once daily, it complements other ADHD medications well. More prospective, multicentre trials of longer duration are, therefore, required to determine the success and risks of the technique in the long run.