Spotlight on methylphenidate controlled-delivery capsules (Equasym XL, Metadate CD) in the treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Controlled-delivery methylphenidate (methylphenidate CD) [Equasym XL, Metadate CD], an oral stimulant, is approved in the US and EU to treat children aged > or = 6 years who have been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Once-daily methylphenidate CD is generally well tolerated and effective in the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD. Methylphenidate CD resulted in superior control of ADHD symptoms compared with osmotic release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate over a time period corresponding to that of an average school day in a laboratory classroom. In 3-week clinical trials conducted in a community setting, methylphenidate CD was superior to placebo and non-inferior to methylphenidate immediate-release in the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD. Thus, methylphenidate CD should be considered an important primary treatment on its own or in addition to behavioural and psychosocial interventions, for when a reduction in ADHD symptoms is required during the school day in preference to the evening.