ReviewNeurology international2023
The Role of Alpha-2 Agonists for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children: A Review.
Review in Neurology international, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and safety of ashwagandha root extract in children and adolescents with mild attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Journal of medicine and life · 2026Trial
- The effect of dexmedetomidine on emergence agitation and pain in post-anesthesia recovery of patients undergoing upper limb elective orthopedic surgery: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.BMC anesthesiology · 2026Trial
- The Relationship Between ADHD Symptom Severity and Sleep Disturbance Using Accelerometer and the Subjective Sleep Disturbance Scale.Journal of attention disorders · 2026Article
- Medical treatment of autism spectrum disorder in children: Current evidence, controversies, and clinical challenges.World journal of clinical pediatrics · 2026Article
- Pharmacotherapies for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Risk of Suicidal Behavior: A Within-Individual Study of Stimulants, Atomoxetine, and Alpha-2 Agonists.Biological psychiatry global open science · 2026Article
- Jingxin Zhidong Formula Alleviates Tic Disorder via Modulation of Microglial IKK/NF-κB Signaling and Striatal Neurotransmitter Homeostasis.Brain and behavior · 2026Article
- Concomitant activation of DResearch square · 2026Article
- Concomitant activation of DDiscover pharmaceutical sciences · 2026Article
- Guanfacine extended-release use in diagnostic diversity and symptom complexity.Frontiers in child and adolescent psychiatry · 2026Article
- Review
- Pharmacological Interventions in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Efficacy.Biomedicines · 2025Review
- Review of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Epidemiology, Aetiology, Pathology, and Pharmacological Treatment.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- From Pharmacological Treatment to Neuromodulation: A Comprehensive Approach to Managing Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- Review
- Guanfacine as an Adjunct Treatment for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Case Report.Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry · 2025Article
- Cardiological Findings in Children and Adolescents Before and After Guanfacine Treatment for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Optimal Dosing Recommendations of Clonidine in Pediatrics Using Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling.The journal of pediatric pharmacology and therapeutics : JPPT : the official journal of PPAG · 2024Article
- Involvement of posterior hypothalamic CaMKII-positive neurons in ADHD-like behaviors in mice.Molecular brain · 2024Article
- Potential for a cerebellar role in moderate-late preterm associated behavioural disorders.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2024Review
- Novel drug treatments for pain in advanced cancer and serious illness: a focus on neuropathic pain and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.Palliative care and social practice · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which is marked by symptoms such as inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can affect academic, social, and personal functioning in children and adolescents. This review summarizes clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of Alpha-2 agonists in reducing symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity in children with ADHD. Studies were identified through a systematic search of PubMed and Cochrane databases. However, these medications' long-term safety and efficacy remain uncertain, with a lack of data on their effects on growth, cardiovascular function, and other adverse events. Further studies are required to determine these medications' optimal dose and treatment duration.
methodsMedications that target the noradrenergic system, such as Alpha-2 agonists, have been increasingly used as a treatment option for ADHD, with guanfacine and clonidine being two of the most commonly used medications. They function by selectively targeting Alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the brain leading to improved attention and reduced hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms in children with ADHD.
resultsClinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of Alpha-2 agonists in treating ADHD in children by reducing symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. However, these medications' long-term safety and efficacy still need to be completely understood. Due to a lack of information on the effects of Alpha-2 agonists on growth, cardiovascular function, and other long-term adverse events, more studies must investigate the optimal dose and treatment duration for these medications.
conclusionsDespite these concerns, Alpha-2 agonists remain a valuable treatment option for ADHD in children, especially those unable to tolerate stimulant medications or who have coexisting conditions such as tic disorders. Future research should continue to explore the safety and efficacy of Alpha-2 agonists in the long term. In conclusion, Alpha-2 agonists show promise as a treatment for ADHD in children; however, the safety and efficacy of these drugs in the long term are not yet completely understood. Additional studies are required to investigate the optimal dose and treatment duration for these medications in their use as a treatment for this debilitating disease.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.