Methylphenidate Treatment of Attention Deficits in Epilepsy
Summary
Methylphenidate (MPH) has long been used to improve attention and cognitive difficulties associated with ADHD, including in children with ADHD and epilepsy (Torres et al., 2008). Methylphenidate (MPH) is also helpful in treating attention and other cognitive difficulties in a variety of other neurological and medical conditions (Kajs-Wyllie, 2002; Prommer, 2012). We seek to evaluate the potential efficacy and safety of this medication in treating attention deficits, as well as other cognitive difficulties, experienced by adult patients with epilepsy. To our knowledge, there are currently very few studies which explicitly examine the impact of MPH on measureable attention deficits and other cognitive deficits in adult patients with epilepsy. We hope to quantify what impact, if any, methylphenidate has on attention, in addition to other specific measureable cognitive functions, in patients with cognitive complaints and epilepsy, and contribute to a growing body of evidence which supports the safety of methylphenidate's use for attention deficits in patients with epilepsy. As other effective treatments for attention and other cognitive difficulties in patients with epilepsy are not currently available, MPH could represent an important option in the treatment of such patients.
Timeline
- Start
- 2014-08
- Primary completion
- 2015-09
- Completion
- 2015-12
Outcome
Mixed primary results
registry MEAN Participants With Epilepsy: Placebo: 49.8 (Standard Deviation 11.9) points NCT02178995 ↗
registry MEAN Participants With Epilepsy: Methylphenidate 10 mg Dose: 52.2 (Standard Deviation 11.6) points NCT02178995 ↗
registry p = 0.008; ANOVA NCT02178995 ↗
registry MEAN Participants With Epilepsy: Placebo: 25.2 (Standard Deviation 14.8) Points NCT02178995 ↗
registry MEAN Participants With Epilepsy: Methylphenidate 10 mg Dose: 27.4 (Standard Deviation 15.4) Points NCT02178995 ↗
registry p = 0.154; ANOVA NCT02178995 ↗
Drugs
| Evaluation | Drug | Modality | Dose | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Methylphenidate | Small molecule | 10 mg | Oral |
| Subject | Methylphenidate | Small molecule | 20 mg | Oral |
| Subject | Methylphenidate | Small molecule | 40 mg | Oral |