NEWS: News.com.au - 19/11/2006 'First non-addictive ADHD drug to be trialled locally'

[hoptis]

First non-addictive ADHD drug to be trialled locally
By Clair Weaver
November 19, 2006 01:00am

THE first non-addictive drug to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is to be trialled on Australian adolescents.

It is hoped that Strattera – which does not contain amphetamines or other stimulants – will be made available under subsidy as an alternative medication for sufferers if the trial is successful.

Australia has one of the highest recorded rates of ADHD in the world, with about a quarter of a million prescriptions for treatment a year.

The usually prescribed drugs Ritalin and dexamphetamine have become controversial because of cases of dependency, recreational use and side-effects.

Strattera works by increasing the flow of dopamine to the brain's neuro-transmitters, which aids decision-making and learning.

Specialists say the drug could be available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) within two years.

News.com.au

 

[phase_dancer]

Interesting. And it can't be readily converted to anything recreational.

I'm keen to know why its not considered to have potential for addiction. Although the article mentions the action of the drug is to increase the flow of DA... the pharmacology states it is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, which is a similar way to how amphetamine's indirect actions result in large releases of dopamine.

rxlist-strattera.

 

[sonicnature]

Would it have the same neurological effect as chems such as amphetamines/methamphetamines?

 

[AlexxRed]

I think its a bit of a marketing ploy myself. For a start its pretty $$$. I don't know many with ADHD/ADD (Myself included) that have found it to be that useful.

There are some other NARI type drugs out there before Strattera like roboxetine, which I have read about being a bit more effective.

These drugs are were basically developed as anti depressants then later seen to be of possible use for ADHD.

As for non addictive, well that's like saying an SSRI is non addictive, sure they have almost no recreational use whatsoever but take an SSRI for a period of time then stop suddenly. Non addictive??