Andrew J. Cutler, MD: The Value of Delayed Release ADHD Treatments

Researchers in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) long seek new treatments with delayed or extended release action.

The short-term release, while effective, force the patient to carry the treatments with them while they are at work, school, or anywhere else outside of the home.

In research presented at the American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) 2021 Annual Conference, investigators presented new data promoting methylphenidate as a treatment for ADHD with both an extended and delayed release action.

The researchers found the treatment resulted in improvements in ADHD symptoms, as well as improvements in early morning functional impairments for children between 6-12 years old.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Andrew J. Cutler, MD, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University, discussed the value of extended release medication and how it can aid patients in improving their quality of life.

In addition, Cutler explained exactly how delayed reaction medications work inside the body and why they are difficult to develop. This treatment could potentially be taken in the evening, enabling the delayed reaction to take effect in the morning.

By doing this, clinicians can prevent peak bursts of effectiveness, in favor of slowly helping the bookend times of morning and late afternoon for patients.