Condition

ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

366.3M
People Affected
164
Active Trials
1.8M
New Cases/Year
200
Deaths/Year

Treatment Rankings

Ranked by evidence volume first. Medicine has spent centuries ranking things by vibes. This is an improvement.

1
Amphetamines (Mixed Amphetamine Salts, Lisdexamfetamine)
90% Effectiveness• 95% Confidence• 60% Safety• 7 trials• 400K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 5-40mg daily (amphetamine equivalent), tailored to individual
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
60
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Immediate (within 30-60 minutes for IR, 1-2 hours for ER)

Duration

Lifetime (as needed)

Response Rate

80%

Remission Rate

45%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

2

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

5

Common Side Effects:

Insomnia: 30%
Decreased appetite/weight loss: 30%
Headache: 15%
Abdominal pain: 12%
Irritability/anxiety: 12%
Increased heart rate/blood pressure: 8%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$1,000

Monitoring

$300

Side Effects

$75

Total Annual

$1,375

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.08

ICER

$18,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$3,055.56

Cost per Responder

$1,718.75

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
ADHD Symptom Severity (ADHD-RS-IV Total Score)45/54 points (moderate-severe ADHD)
-40% (-18 points)
Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S)4.5/7 (moderately ill)
-33% (-1.5 points)
Functional Impairment (WFIRS-S Total Score)60/100 points (significant impairment)
-35% (-21 points)
Secondary Benefits
Health-Related Quality of Life (ADQoL Total Score)60/100 points (below average)
+18% (+10.8 points)
Inattention Symptoms (ADHD-RS-IV Inattention Subscale)25/27 points
-38% (-9.5 points)
Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Symptoms (ADHD-RS-IV Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Subscale)20/27 points
-42% (-8.4 points)
Common Side Effects
Insomnia
+30%
Decreased appetite/weight loss
+30%
Headache
+15%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
2
Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
85% Effectiveness• 95% Confidence• 60% Safety• 341 trials• 500K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 10-60mg daily (methylphenidate equivalent), tailored to individual
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
60
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

Immediate (within 30-60 minutes for IR, 1-2 hours for ER)

Duration

Lifetime (as needed)

Response Rate

75%

Remission Rate

40%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

3

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

5

Common Side Effects:

Insomnia: 25%
Decreased appetite/weight loss: 25%
Headache: 15%
Abdominal pain: 12%
Irritability/mood swings: 8%
Increased heart rate/blood pressure: 8%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$800

Monitoring

$300

Side Effects

$75

Total Annual

$1,175

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.08

ICER

$15,000/QALY

Cost per Remission

$2,937.5

Cost per Responder

$1,567

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
ADHD Symptom Severity (ADHD-RS-IV Total Score)ADHD-RS-IV Total Score: 42/54
-40% (-16.8 points)
Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S)CGI-S Score: 4.5/7
-44.4% (-2 points)
Inattention Symptoms (ADHD-RS-IV Inattention Subscale)ADHD-RS-IV Inattention Subscale Score: 24/27
-45% (-10.8 points)
Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Symptoms (ADHD-RS-IV Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Subscale)ADHD-RS-IV Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Subscale Score: 18/27
-35% (-6.3 points)
Secondary Benefits
Academic Productivity/Functional Impairment (WFIRS-P Total Score)WFIRS-P Total Score: 2.7/3
-44.4% (-1.2 points)
Health-Related Quality of Life (PedsQL Psychosocial Health Summary Score)PedsQL Psychosocial Health Summary Score: 60/100
+16.7% (+10 points)
Executive Functioning (BRIEF-P Global Executive Composite T-score)BRIEF-P GEC T-score: 70
-14.3% (-10 T-score points)
Common Side Effects
Insomnia
+25%
Decreased appetite/weight loss
+25%
Headache
+15%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
3
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for ADHD
70% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 95% Safety• 63 trials• 25K participants
MODERATE EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 12-16 weekly sessions of 45-60 minutes, plus daily practice
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
95
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

8-12 weeks for noticeable improvements

Duration

12-16 weekly sessions, then maintenance as needed

Response Rate

55%

Remission Rate

15%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

5

Common Side Effects:

Initial discomfort/frustration with tasks: 8%
Time commitment: 100%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$0

Monitoring

$500

Side Effects

$0

Total Annual

$2,500

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.06

ICER

$41,667/QALY

Cost per Remission

$16,666.67

Cost per Responder

$4,545.45

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
ADHD Symptom SeverityCAARS-S:L T-score: 72
-19.4% (-14 points on CAARS-S:L T-score)
Inattention SymptomsCAARS-S:L Inattention T-score: 75
-21.3% (-16 points on CAARS-S:L Inattention T-score)
Executive Functioning DifficultiesBRIEF-A GEC T-score: 70
-18.6% (-13 points on BRIEF-A GEC T-score)
Functional ImpairmentWSAS score: 28/40
-32.1% (-9 points on WSAS score)
Secondary Benefits
Quality of LifeAAQoL score: 55/100
+14.5% (+8 points on AAQoL score)
Self-EsteemRSES score: 15/30
+20% (+3 points on RSES score)
Anxiety SymptomsGAD-7 score: 12/21
-25% (-3 points on GAD-7 score)
Common Side Effects
Initial discomfort/frustration with tasks
+8%
Time commitment
+100%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
4
Atomoxetine
60% Effectiveness• 90% Confidence• 65% Safety• 136 trials• 30K participants
HIGH EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 40-100mg daily
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Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
65
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

2-4 weeks for initial effects, 6-12 weeks for full effect

Duration

Long-term (as needed)

Response Rate

45%

Remission Rate

20%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

7

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

7

Common Side Effects:

Nausea/vomiting/abdominal pain: 15%
Insomnia: 12%
Dry mouth: 10%
Headache: 10%
Decreased appetite: 8%
Increased heart rate/blood pressure: 5%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$600

Monitoring

$200

Side Effects

$50

Total Annual

$850

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.04

ICER

$21,250/QALY

Cost per Remission

$4,250

Cost per Responder

$1,888.89

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
ADHD-RS-IV Total Score38/54 points
-34% (-13 points)
ADHD-RS-IV Inattention Subscale Score19/27 points
-37% (-7 points)
ADHD-RS-IV Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Subscale Score19/27 points
-32% (-6 points)
Secondary Benefits
WFIRS-P Total Score35/90 points
-26% (-9 points)
PedsQL ADHD Module Total Score60/100 points
+13% (+8 points)
Parent Stress Index (PSI) Total Score90/150 points
-17% (-15 points)
Common Side Effects
Nausea/vomiting/abdominal pain
+15%
Insomnia
+12%
Dry mouth
+10%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4
5
Guanfacine Extended Release
55% Effectiveness• 85% Confidence• 65% Safety• 18 trials• 7K participants
MODERATE EvidenceExcellent ValueDose: 1-7mg daily
Find Trials

Comparative Safety Scale(Higher is safer)

Cyanide☠️
Meth💀
Cigarettes🚬
Chemo☢️
Alcohol🍺
Morphine💊
Antibiotics💉
Tylenol💊
Exercise🏃
Water💧
65
DangerousModerateSafe

Time to Effect

1-2 weeks for initial effects, 3-4 weeks for full effect

Duration

Long-term (as needed)

Response Rate

40%

Remission Rate

15%

Number Needed to Treat (NNT)

8

Number Needed to Harm (NNH)

4

Common Side Effects:

Sedation/somnolence: 25%
Fatigue: 15%
Dizziness: 12%
Headache: 10%
Abdominal pain: 7%
Hypotension/bradycardia: 6%

Annual Cost of Care

Drug Cost

$700

Monitoring

$250

Side Effects

$50

Total Annual

$1,000

Cost-Effectiveness

EXCELLENT

QALYs Gained

0.03

ICER

$33,333/QALY

Cost per Remission

$6,666.67

Cost per Responder

$2,500

Treatment Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
ADHD-RS-IV Total ScoreADHD-RS-IV Total Score: 36/54
-44.4% (-16 points)
ADHD-RS-IV Hyperactivity/Impulsivity SubscaleADHD-RS-IV Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Subscale: 18/27
-44.4% (-8 points)
ADHD-RS-IV Inattention SubscaleADHD-RS-IV Inattention Subscale: 18/27
-38.9% (-7 points)
SWAN Total Score (Teacher-rated)SWAN Total Score (Teacher-rated): 2.5 (mean item score, 0-3 scale)
-24% (-0.6 points)
Secondary Benefits
CGI-S ScoreCGI-S Score: 4.5/7
-22.2% (-1.0 points)
Parent Stress Index (PSI) Total Stress ScorePSI Total Stress Score: 105/150
-9.5% (-10 points)
Working Memory Index (WMI)Working Memory Index (WMI, Wechsler Intelligence Scale): 85/190
+7.1% (+6 points)
Common Side Effects
Sedation/somnolence
+25%
Fatigue
+15%
Dizziness
+12%

Clinical Trial Phases:

Phase 4