THE EFFICASY OF VENLAFAXINE IN COMPARISON WITH PLACEBO IN THE TREATMENT OF ADULTS WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER: A DOUBLE BLIND RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Objectives: The prevalence of adult ADHD is estimated to be 2 to 4 percent, where hyperactive-impulsive symptoms are less obvious compared to the inattentive symptoms. This disorder can negatively affect the educational, social, and occupational activities of those who suffer from its symptoms. Considering the importance of problem and it’s treatment, therapeutic effects of venlafaxine in the disorder.was studied. Method: In a double-blind control trial study, adults with ADHD (N=44, age range=18-45 years) were randomly assigned to receive 6 weeks of treatment with either venlafaxine or placebo.
Results: The study group consisted of 20 patients (11 were male and 9 were female) and the control group were 21 patients (13 were male and 8 were female). One patient in the study group discontinued treatment within the first week because of agitation and anxiety. One patient in the study group and two patients in the placebo group failed to follow up. The mean age of patients was 30.30 ± 8.31 and 30.70 ± 8.4, years in the venlafaxine and in the placebo group respectively. A significant improvement in all the subscales inattention, hyperactive-impulsive, totals and ADHD-index were observed with venlafaxine (225 mg per day) after four weeks of treatment. Common side effects in the study group were dry mouth, anorexia and drowsiness while they were headache, nausea and insomnia in the placebo group.
Conclusions: Venlafaxine is an effective and low risk medication in a short term treatment course for adult ADHD. At the end of sixth week of treatment it improves inattention and hyperactivity symptoms while patients tolerated the therapeutic dose of 75 mg three times daily.