Article Sidebar
Published:
Sep 18, 2014Keywords:
Article Details
Submission of a manuscript to this journal is a representation that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All authors named in each manuscript would be required to sign a form (to be supplied by the Editor) so that they may retain their copyright in the article but to assign to us (the Publishers) and its licensees in perpetuity, in all forms, formats and media (whether known or created in the future) to (i) publish, reproduce, distribute, display and store the contribution, (ii) translate the contribution into other languages, create adaptations, reprints, include within collections and create summaries, extracts and/or abstracts of the contribution, (iii) create any other derivative works(s) based on the contribution, (iv) to exploit all subsidiary rights in the contribution, (v) the inclusion of electronic links from the contribution to third party material where-ever it may be located, and (vi) license any thrid party to do any or all of the above.
Main Article Content
Prescribing Patterns of Methylphenidate and Atomoxetine for Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the prescribing pattern of methylphenidate and atomoxetine to patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in South Africa.
Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional pharmacoepidemiological study was conducted based on the data from a medical aid administrator in South Africa for 2011. All records for ADHD patients who received one or more prescriptions for methylphenidate and/or atomoxetine (ATC Code N06BA) were extracted for analysis.
Results: A total of 455 patients (mean age: 16.5 ± 11.56 yr) received 1653 prescriptions for methylphenidate and/or atomoxetine at a total cost of South African Rand 554,915.84 (US dollar 1.0 = Rand 6.76). A majority of these patients (70.34 %) were males and 21.10 % were older than 18 yr (25.76 % of females and 19.81 % of males). About a third of the prescriptions (30.44 %) were dispensed to children younger than 12 years while 25.88 % were dispensed to adolescents (12 to 18 years). Most prescriptions (92.01 %) were for methylphenidate while atomoxetine accounted for 7.99 % of the prescription. A majority of the prescriptions for methylphenidate (47.86 %) were for children younger than 12 yr, and most prescriptions for atomoxetine (52.27 %) were for adolescents.
Conclusion: Methylphenidate is the mainstay in the treatment of ADHD in South Africa, with atomoxetine prescribed more often to older patients. Drug use is rational and dosages are within the recommended dosage ranges. As expected, older patients are receiving treatment for ADHD.
Keywords: Methylphenidate, Atomoxetine, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder, Pharmacoepidemiology
