University Medical School researchers recently discovered that the prescription drug Concerta is more effective than Ritalin in improving the driving of teenagers suffering from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Web MD points out that one difference between these two brand names of methylphenidate (MPH) is that Concerta is a once-a-day controlled-release drug, meaning that it will release a gradually ascending level of MPH in the body, while Ritalin is an immediate-release MPH, meaning that it has peaks and falls of effectiveness.
The U.Va. study was led by Daniel J. Cox, professor of psychiatric medicine.
"I have invested personal interest in this research because both of my sons could benefit from it," Cox said. "One son has ADHD while the other has ADD."
Cox also said that ADHD is a real problem for drivers, even though most people associate the effects of ADHD with schoolwork.
"Accidents are four times more common for teenagers with ADHD," Cox said.
Cox and his research team blindly evaluated teens' driving for steering, braking and speed control abilities in a high-tech driving simulator for six months. They evaluated their driving at 2 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Cox discovered that while Concerta users drove equally well at all four times, Ritalin users drove five times worse at 8 and 11 than they did at 2 and 5 p.m.
Cox also is currently conducting a second study that monitors teenagers driving during actual road conditions. Already Cox has discovered that while speeding levels are no different between ADHD suffers and non-sufferers, there is a huge amount of inattentiveness among ADHD drivers.
As a result of his research, Cox concluded that ADHD suffers may benefit more overall, not just in school, from a longer-acting MPH than an immediate-release MPH.
-- Compiled by Anne Deady
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