Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) represents the most common neurobehavioral disorder in children, affecting 3% to 5% of the school-age population. Behavioral pediatricians, child psychiatrists, and child neurologists indicate that referrals for ADHD may constitute up to 50% of their practices. This is a multicenter, open-label, non-randomized, single-treatment study in children 6 to 13 years of age with ADHD who have successfully completed specific earlier ALZA studies. Part I of this study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of OROS® (methylphenidate HCl) for a period of one year in children with ADHD. Part II of this study continues the evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of OROS® (methylphenidate HCl) in children with ADHD who have completed one year in Part I of the study. During Part I of the study, patients will be assigned to treatment with OROS® (methylphenidate HCl) 18, 36, or 54 milligrams once daily, as determined by the results from their participation in earlier ALZA studies. Patients continuing in Part II of the study continue to receive a daily dose as determined from the dosing at the end of Part I. Doses can be titrated up or down, as considered appropriate by the medical personnel at the study site, with a maximum once-daily dose of 54 milligrams. Effectiveness is determined by standardized measurements of attention, behavior, and hyperactivity including: the IOWA (Inattention Overactivity with Aggression) Conners Rating Scale, Inattention/Overactivity (I/O) and Oppositional/Defiance (O/D) subscales; Peer Interaction assessment; Global evaluation of effectiveness of therapy; and the Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire. Safety evaluations include the incidence of adverse events, physical examinations, clinical laboratory tests, vital signs, sleep quality, appetite, and the presence/severity of tics (hard-to-control, repeated twitching of any parts of the body or hard-to-control repeating of sounds or words).~Data will be summarized and no formal hypotheses will be tested. Part I: A daily morning oral dose of 18, 36, or 54 milligrams of OROS® (methylphenidate HCl) for up to 12 months. Part II: Continuation for up to 15 months of the same daily dose taken at the end of Part I. Total treatment duration to approximately 27 months.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the long-term safety and effectiveness of OROSÂ® Methylphenidate HCl (a central nervous system stimulant) in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).