NIH Supports Research On ADHD - Alcohol Abuse Connection, Could Lead To New Treatments For Adult ADHD

Main Category: ADHD
Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs;  Psychology / Psychiatry;  Mental Health
Article Date: 04 Nov 2006 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

With help from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) will continue to unravel the mystery of how alcohol use and abuse alters the effects of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. Kennerly S. Patrick, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the South Carolina College of Pharmacy's (SCCP) MUSC Campus, and his colleagues recently received a $1.57 million NIH grant to shed light on the role alcohol plays in influencing the stimulant effects of methylphenidate (MPH), the active ingredient found in such ADHD drug products as Ritalin and Concerta.

MPH, a psychostimulant, is the most widely prescribed drug for ADHD treatment. However, MPH also is widely abused due to its ability to produce effects similar to those of cocaine if not used in the prescribed manner. Concern over this behavior has led MUSC researchers to find that alcohol causes MPH blood concentrations to rise and brain effects to change.

Only recently has awareness grown that ADHD frequently persists into adulthood, setting the stage for the use and abuse of MPH with alcohol. Alcohol abuse is more common among ADHD patients than in the general population, especially in women. Accordingly, the combined effects of a MPH - alcohol mixture on both the mind and the body are of special interest to NIH and MUSC.

In 2002, Patrick's team of researchers found that alcohol interferes with one's ability to metabolize MPH which results in increased concentrations of the drug in the blood. They also found that women are more sensitive to the drug effects of MPH than men in spite of the surprising discovery that women absorb less MPH into their bloodstream than men.

Finally, these studies revealed that alcohol consumption leads to the body's production of a new active form of MPH known as ethylphenidate (EPH). Patrick hopes to discover improved therapies for ADHD as it relates to gender and interaction with alcohol. Even the alcohol product EPH has shown some potential as an ADHD drug in its own right. Potential health benefits of these findings may include recommendations to avoid prescribing MPH to adult patients given to alcohol consumption. Such ADHD patients may become first-line candidates for amphetamine or for non-stimulant therapy such as Strattera (atomoxetine). Importantly, these investigations contribute to an understanding of medication-alcohol toxicology essential for preventing dangerous or deadly adverse drug effects such as heart attack or stroke.

About MUSC
Founded in 1824 in Charleston, The Medical University of South Carolina is the oldest medical school in the south. Today, MUSC continues the tradition of excellence in education, research, and patient care. MUSC is home to over 3,000 students and residents, as well as nearly 10,000 employees, including 1,300 faculty members. As the largest non-federal employer in Charleston, the University and its affiliates have collective budgets in excess of $1.3 billion per year. MUSC operates a 600 bed medical center, which includes a nationally recognized Children's Hospital and a leading Institute of Psychiatry.

For more information about academic or clinical programs at MUSC, please visit :
http://www.muschealth.com

• Additional
• References
• Citations