Posted by Cam W. on February 12, 2001, at 21:43:25
In reply to Wellbutrin for a 6 year old? Not FDA approved?, posted by Staci on February 12, 2001, at 20:51:23
Staci - Wellbutrin has been shown to work in about 50% of children and adults with ADHD. The reason that it is unapproved for those under 18 yrs of age is that it is sort of unethical to do large, randomized placebo-controlled trials in children. Most of the evidence for efficacy comes from case reports and (I believe) a case-series. I was reading about it last night in this month's American Journal of Psychiatry (an article on a clinical trial of Wellbutrin use in adult ADHD).
I have the article at work, but any major university should have the journal in it's stacks. You could also buy the article online, but I refuse to pay good money when it is much cheaper to photocopy.
Do not take your child off of the Wellbutrin without the doc's approval. It would be a shame to stop a potentially effective treatment. True, Wellbutrin is used as a second-line agent (and unapproved), but more and more child psychiatrists are using it successfully. Discuss the risk/benefit ratio of the use of this drug with your child's doctor before doing anything rash.
I have personally seen a "night and day" difference in a child who had worked his way through all of the stimulants, only to be controlled by a moderate dose of Wellbutrin SR (100mg twice daily). This child is older, but still preteen.
Again, talk it over with the doctor.
I hope this is of some help - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:53837
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010212/msgs/53842.html