Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Drug Therapy Review Reports

PharmaCare conducted a therapeutic review of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications for the management of ADHD.

Through its drug review process, PharmaCare considered existing policies, programs, priorities and resources, and the evidence-informed recommendations of an independent advisory body called the Drug Benefit Council (DBC).

As part of the ADHD therapeutic review, PharmaCare reviewed available clinical evidence and coverage recommendations for the pharmacologic management of ADHD. Clinical evidence materials and the DBC recommendation are available below.

Reviews and recommendations

In August 2016, the DBC reviewed the medications for the management of ADHD.

• DBC - Recommendation and Reasons for Recommendation: ADHD Therapeutic Review (PDF, 116KB)

The Drug Effectiveness Review Project conducted a drug class review of the pharmacologic treatments for ADHD.

• Drug Class Review: Pharmacologic Treatments for ADHD (Drug Effectiveness Review Project, 2011) (PDF, 2.96MB)

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) published a Comparative Effectiveness Review of the effectiveness of various treatments for ADHD and the variability in prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.

• ADHD: Effectiveness of Treatment in At-Risk Preschoolers; Long-Term Effectiveness in All Ages; and Variability in Prevalence, Diagnosis, and Treatment (AHRQ, 2011)

The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) completed a drug class review of drugs used in the management of ADHD in adults. This document is the Final Consolidated Report which was published in December 2015. Other reports from this drug class review are available on the ODPRN website.

• Drugs Used in the Management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults, Final Consolidated Report (ODPRN, 2015) (PDF, 1.15MB)

In March 2016, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) reviewed the evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacologic management of ADHD.

• Summary with Critical Appraisal: Pharmacologic Management of Patients with ADHD: A Review of Guidelines (CADTH, 2016) (PDF, 171KB)

The CADTH summarized the clinical evidence and findings of various guidelines and recommendations for the treatment of ADHD.

• Summary of Current Evidence: Guidelines and Recommendations for ADHD in Children and Adolescents (CADTH, October 2011) (PDF, 415KB)

The CADTH assessed the quality of the Canadian Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Resource Alliance (CADDRA) Canadian ADHD Practice Guidelines for adults.

• Quality Assessment of the Canadian Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Resource Alliance ADHD Practice Guidelines in Adults with ADHD (CADTH, March 2011) (PDF, 269KB)