Objective: This review was conducted to provide information on nonstimulant medications used to treat ADHD.
Method: Previous investigations on several groups of nonstimulant medications were reviewed, and a discussion of antidepressants, antihypertensives, atypical antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, and cholinergic agents is included.
Results: The results of this review provide information on several viable options of treatment in situations in which the use of a stimulant would be inappropriate or in situations in which stimulants have provided limited effectiveness.
Conclusion: Despite their viability as alternatives, each type of medication has certain limitations, side effects, and varying amounts of research available to substantiate its use for the treatment of ADHD. These medications offer several potentially successful options to those who fail to respond to stimulants or to those who find the side effects of stimulants bothersome.