Note: “Psychostimulants are first-line and non-psychostimulants second-line in terms of effectiveness for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.” AAFP

MEDICATIONS FORMULATIONS STARTING DOSAGE

Short-acting

Methylphenidate (Ritalin)

Chewable tablet: 2.5, 5, or 10 mg
Tablet: 5, 10, or 20 mg
Solution: 5 or 10 mg per 5 mL
2.5 mg twice to three times daily (maximum, 30 mg per day)

Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)

2.5, 5, or 10 mg
2.5 mg twice daily (maximum, 20 mg per day)

Dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall)

5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, or 30 mg
2.5 to 5 mg twice daily (maximum, 40 mg per day)

Dextroamphetamine (Zenzedi, Procentra)

Tablet: 5, 10, or 15 mg
Solution: 5 mg per 5 mL
5 to 15 mg twice daily (maximum, 40 mg per day)

Intermediate-acting

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Metadate ER)

20 mg
20 mg twice daily (maximum, 60 mg per day)

Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)†

5, 10, or 15 mg
5 mg twice daiy; (maximum, 60 mg per day)

Long-acting

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Metadate, Concerta, Daytrana, Quillivant)†

Capsule†: 10, 20, 30, 40, or 50 mg
Tablet: 18, 27, 36, or 54 mg
Transdermal patch: 10, 15, 20, or 30 mg
Solution: 5 mg per mL
Capsule: 10 to 20 mg (maximum, 60 mg per day)
Tablet: 18 mg (maximum, 54 mg per day if < 13 years of age, 72 mg per day if ≥ 13 years of age and ≤ 2 mg per kg per day)
Transdermal patch: 10 mg (maximum, 30 mg per day)
Oral solution: 20 mg (maximum, 60 mg per day)

Dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall XR)†

5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 mg
5 to 10 mg per day (maximum, 30 mg per day)

Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin XR)†

5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 40 mg
5 mg per day (maximum, 30 mg per day)

Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)†

20, 30, 40, 50, 60, or 70 mg
30 mg per day (maximum, 70 mg per day)

Nonpsychostimulants

Atomoxetine (Strattera)

10, 18, 25, 40, 60, 80, or 100 mg
≤ 70 kg: 0.5 mg per kg for 3 days, then increase to 1.2 mg per kg per day; > 70 kg: 40 mg per day for 3 days, then increase to 80 to 100 mg per day (maximum, 1.4 mg per kg)

Clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay)

Regular release: 0.1, 0.2, or 0.3 mg
Extended release: 0.1 or 0.2 mg
Regular release: 0.05 mg at night for 3 to 7 days, then increase to 3 or 4 doses per day (maximum, 0.2 mg per day for < 41 kg, 0.3 mg per day for 41 to 45 kg, and 0.4 mg per day for > 45 kg)
Extended release: 0.1 mg at night for 7 days, then increase by 0.1 mg twice daily every week (maximum, 0.4 mg per day)

Guanfacine (Tenex, Intuniv)

Regular release: 1 or 2 mg
Extended release: 1, 2, 3, or 4 mg
Regular release: 0.5 mg at night for 7 days, then increase by 0.5 mg twice daily every 3 to 7 days (maximum, 2 mg per day for < 40.5 kg, 3 mg per day for 40.5 to 45 kg, 4 mg per day for > 45 kg
Extended release: 1 mg morning or night for 7 days, increase by 1 mg per week (maximum, 4 mg per day)

†—May sprinkle contents of capsule on food.

Reference

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2014/1001/p456.html

Epocrates

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