ADHD Treatment Effective for Fragile X Syndrome

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Children with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) may get relief for their symptoms from a drug that is not a stimulant.

FXS is the most common hereditary form of mental retardation. Many children with the condition also have attention deficit and/or hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Stimulants such as Ritalin often work well in treating ADHD in mentally retarded children but they also cause side effects such as increased irritability, decreased verbalization and social withdrawal.

Researchers in Italy looked at 51 boys between the ages of six and 12 with FXS and ADHD. Participants took either 500 milligrams of L-acetyl carnitine (LAC) -- a form of the amino acid carnitine -- or a placebo twice a day for 12 months.

Results show patients on LAC had reduced hyperactive behavior and increased attention without any side effects, confirming the drug is a safe alternative to stimulants. Those treated with the placebo also had reduced hyperactive behavior, but not nearly as much as the LAC patients. And the study finds the LAC group had significantly improved social ability compared to the placebo group. Both groups took intelligence tests, but LAC did not improve overall intellectual functioning.

“We propose that LAC be recommended as a treatment of ADHD in FXS children, since it effectively reduces hyperactive behavior and improves social abilities without adverse side effects,” study authors concluded.

The authors also suggest their findings may apply to children with autism who do not easily tolerate stimulants either.

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SOURCE: American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A published online Feb. 19, 2008