Medikinet Indications/Uses

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): MEDIKINET MR is indicated as part of a comprehensive treatment programme for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when remedial measures alone prove insufficient. Treatment must be initiated under the supervision of a specialist in behavioural disorders.
Diagnosis should be made considering DSM-IV criteria or the guidelines in ICD-10 and should be based on a complete history and evaluation of the patient. For adults, this includes a structured interview of the patient to determine current symptoms, also comprising scales for self-assessment as well as a retrospective determination of the preexistence of ADHD during childhood, which has to be conducted using validated instruments. Diagnosis cannot be made solely on the presence of one or more symptoms.
The specific aetiology of this syndrome is unknown. There is no single diagnostic test. Adequate diagnosis requires the use of medical, specialised psychological, and (for children and adolescents) educational, as well as social resources.
A comprehensive treatment programme typically includes psychological, social, and (for children and adolescents) educational measures, as well as pharmacotherapy and is aimed at stabilising patients with a behavioural syndrome characterised by symptoms which may include chronic history of short attention span, distractibility, emotional lability, impulsivity, moderate to severe hyperactivity, minor neurological signs, and abnormal EEG. Learning may or may not be impaired.
Methylphenidate treatment is not indicated in all patients with ADHD and the decision to use the drug must be based on a very thorough assessment of the severity and chronicity of the symptoms.
Appropriate psychopathological or (for children and adolescents) educational placement is essential, and psychosocial intervention is generally necessary. Where remedial measures alone prove insufficient, the decision to prescribe a stimulant must be based on rigorous assessment of the severity of the symptoms. The use of methylphenidate should always follow the licensed indication and prescribing/diagnostic guidelines.