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Home › Articles › Special Needs › ADD/ADHD Medications

ADD/ADHD Medications

Are They Affected by the Foods Kids Eat for Breakfast?

By Gwen Morrison

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Recent studies have shown that the reliability of certain medications given to individuals to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) may be affected by what they eat for breakfast. As a parent, you need to be sure that the medication your child is taking to alleviate the symptoms of ADD is working at the optimal therapeutic level.

The Study
Information gathered from the CAFǠ(Concerta, Adderall XR, Food Evaluation) study indicates that blood levels of people taking a single dose of Concerta are not affected by what they consume for breakfast. This gives the individual a consistent therapeutic effect throughout the day. In contrast, the medication Adderall XRTM (extended release) that has been widely used in treating the symptoms of ADD was shown to decrease by 55 percent in the bloodstream during the first four hours after the initial dose.

The study suggests that the effect of certain kinds of food may be directly related to the effectiveness and consistency of the therapeutic benefits of the medication.

In the CAFǠstudy, conducted by the McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals in Fort Washington, Pa., a high-fat breakfast was given to participants following a morning dose of two extended-release attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) stimulant medications. The patients had undergone an overnight fast prior to the breakfast. Blood samples were then collected at consistent intervals throughout the day up to 28 hours after the dose. Subjects were also monitored throughout the day for adverse reactions and side effects.

The extended release medications that were used Concerta and Adderall are taken once a day and provide the initial dose of medication right after the dose is taken. Throughout the day, the medication releases gradually. For patients to receive the full benefits of the extended-release medication, it is vital for there to be consistency in delivery and absorption in the first four to eight hours.

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