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ADD/ADHD Medications

Are They Affected by the Foods Kids Eat for Breakfast?

By Gwen Morrison

Dr. Adesman points out that as children generally take their ADHD medication first thing in the morning, around the time they are having their breakfast, it is crucial not to ignore the possible effects of food on the absorption of the drug they are taking. "Celltech, the manufacturer of Metadate CD (an eight- to nine-hour extended-release MPH preparation) acknowledges that a high-fat food delays the peak MPH level by at least an hour," says Dr. Adesman. "The recent CAFǠstudy comparing Adderall XR and Concerta demonstrated that a high-fat diet likewise significantly affected the absorption of the amphetamine salts in Adderall XR whereas MPH absorption was not affected by the presence of food in this study."

These recent studies show strong evidence that food can significantly compromise the intended time course of the effects of certain medications. It must be noted that the absorption of MPH released by Concerta was not affected by food in the CAFǠstudy.

"Moreover, day-to-day changes in breakfast foods may lead to daily variability in the time course of the clinical response to a constant dose of Adderall XR," says Dr. Adesman. "These food effects, although not studied from a clinical standpoint, may explain why medications are more effective some days than others."

With the recent advances in medications for children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, parents should be aware of their choices, kept up to date on new studies and advances that would alleviate side effects and be educated on how to administer it correctly to allow for the optimal results.