AUTHOR=Alalalmeh Samer O. , Hegazi Omar E. , Shahwan Moyad , Alshehri Fahad S. , Ashour Ahmed M. , Algarni Alanood S. , Alorfi Nasser M. 

TITLE=Amphetamines in child medicine: a review of ClinicalTrials.gov

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1280562

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2023.1280562

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Globally, the use of amphetamines as therapeutic agents in pediatric medicine is a crucial area of concern, especially given the population’s vulnerability.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> On 6 August 2023, a search was conducted on <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://ClinicalTrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ClinicalTrials.gov</ext-link> using “amphetamine” as the keyword. Two independent examiners screened trials against set criteria, including a focus on amphetamine, completion status, an interventional approach, and included children. Ongoing or observational studies were excluded. Data extracted from the qualified trials encompassed primary objectives, participant counts, study duration, and outcomes, with the aim of analyzing children disorders treated by amphetamine.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> On 6 August 2023, a search of the <ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="http://ClinicalTrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ClinicalTrials.gov</ext-link> database with the term “amphetamines” identified 179 clinical trials. After extensive exclusion criteria, 19 trials were ultimately selected for analysis. The predominant condition under investigation was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), present in 84.2% of studies. Key study characteristics included: phase 4 trials (36.8%), randomized allocation (63.2%), and the parallel intervention model (42.1%). Masking techniques varied, with no masking in 42.1% of studies, and double and quadruple masking both accounting for 21.1%. Geographically, 78.9% of the studies’ participants were from the United States.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> This study highlights the notable therapeutic potential of amphetamines in pediatric ADHD populations and emphasizes the importance of recognizing potential side effects and addiction risks. As pharmacogenomics offers the prospect of personalized treatments, there is potential to increase therapeutic efficacy and decrease adverse reactions. It is vital to balance these benefits against the inherent risks, understanding the need for continued research to optimize the use of amphetamines in medicine.</p>