ADHD History and Medication Timeline

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History

Medication Timeline

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)is a neurodevelopmental condition that is most often diagnosed during childhood, although it can affect adults as well. While ADHD is the most common mental health condition diagnosed in children today,it was not always as well recognized or understood.

Learn more about how we’ve come to understand ADHD over time. We also share how ADHD medications have changed, offering different treatment options depending on the timing of the diagnosis.

Some people believe that many historical figures could have had ADHD, some of whom include Mozart, DaVinci, and Albert Einstein.

Since 1987, this condition has been known as ADHD and is further divided intothree subtypes: inattentive type, hyperactive/impulsive type, and combined type.

History of ADHD

Here’s what the history of ADHD looks like when placed on a timeline:

ADHD Medication Timeline

Benzedrine was once thought of as heralding the modern era of ADHD treatment, but that role has likely now passed to the newer, once-a-day ADHD medications that most kids take.

Although it seems like a lot of differentADHD medicationshave been developed over the years, especially in the last ten years, most of them use the same basic active ingredients: methylphenidate and amphetamine/dextroamphetamine. These are ingredients that have been used since the earliest days of ADHD research.

What You Should Know About ADHD MedicationsThere are manyside effects associated with ADHD medications, some of the most common being decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, and headaches.Talk with your healthcare provider about any side effects experienced. They may adjust the dosage of the medication or switch to a new one to help reduce or eliminate these effects.

What You Should Know About ADHD Medications

There are manyside effects associated with ADHD medications, some of the most common being decreased appetite, trouble sleeping, and headaches.Talk with your healthcare provider about any side effects experienced. They may adjust the dosage of the medication or switch to a new one to help reduce or eliminate these effects.

Here is the history timeline that includes some of today’s most common ADHD medications, like Adderall andRitalin,as well as less common or older drug treatment options.

Many of these ADHD medications, even the extended-release versions, are now available as generics.Generic ADHD medicationsare often available at a reduced cost.

Summary

While we have come a long way in our understanding of ADHD, researchers continue to explore the causes of the condition, seek additional treatments, and strive to understand how it affects people in different ways. As we learn more, additional treatments may emerge that can help both children and adults with ADHD.

16 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children’s mental health: Data & statistics.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Did DaVinci Have ADHD? Why Do We Want to Know?Martinez-Badía J, Martinez-Raga J.Who says this is a modern disorder? The early history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(4):379-386. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i4.379Bradley C.The behavior of children receiving benzedrine.Am J Psychiatry. 1937;94(4):577-585. doi:10.1176/ajp.94.3.577Freed H, Peifer CA.Treatment of hyperkinetic emotionally disturbed children with prolonged administration of chlorpromazine.Am J Psychiatry. 1956;113(1):22-26. doi:10.1176/ajp.113.1.22Conners CK, Eisenberg L.The effects of methylphenidate on symptomatology and learning in disturbed children.Am J Psychiatry. 1963;120:458-464. doi:10.1176/ajp.120.5.458Lange KW, Reichl S, Lange KM, Tucha L, Tucha O.The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2010;2(4):241-255. doi:10.1007/s12402-010-0045-8The Washington Post.Attention deficit disorder.Gabay M.The Federal Controlled Substances Act: Schedules and pharmacy registration.Hosp Pharm. 2013;48(6):473-474. doi:10.1310/hpj4806-473Kugel RB, Scherz RG, Seidel HM, et al.Medication for hyperkinetic children.Pediatrics. 1975;55(4):560-562. doi:10.1542/peds.55.4.560N.A.American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children with Disabilities, Committee on Drugs: Medication for children with an attention deficit disorder.Pediatrics. 1987;80(5):758-760.Colson ER.Medication for children with attention disorders.Pediatrics. 1997;99(6):922-923.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Drug approval package: Strattera (atomoxetine hydrochloride) capsules.Sanders S, Thomas R, Glasziou P, Doust J.A review of changes to the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder age of onset criterion using the checklist for modifying disease definitions.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):357. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2337-7Fredriksen M, Dahl AA, Martinsen EW, Klungsøyr O, Haavik J, Peleikis DE.Effectiveness of one-year pharmacological treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): An open-label prospective study of time in treatment, dose, side-effects and comorbidity.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;24(12):1873-1884. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.09.013Cleveland Clinic.ADHD medication.Additional ReadingMayes R, Rafalovich A.Suffer the restless children: The evolution of ADHD and paediatric stimulant use, 1900—80.Hist Psychiatry. 2007;18(4):435-57. doi:10.1177/0957154X06075782Palmer ED, Finger S.An early description of ADHD (inattentive subtype): Dr Alexander Crichton and ’mental restlessness’(1798).Child Psychol Psychiatry Rev. 2003;6(2):66-73. doi:10.1111/1475-3588.00324

16 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children’s mental health: Data & statistics.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Did DaVinci Have ADHD? Why Do We Want to Know?Martinez-Badía J, Martinez-Raga J.Who says this is a modern disorder? The early history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(4):379-386. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i4.379Bradley C.The behavior of children receiving benzedrine.Am J Psychiatry. 1937;94(4):577-585. doi:10.1176/ajp.94.3.577Freed H, Peifer CA.Treatment of hyperkinetic emotionally disturbed children with prolonged administration of chlorpromazine.Am J Psychiatry. 1956;113(1):22-26. doi:10.1176/ajp.113.1.22Conners CK, Eisenberg L.The effects of methylphenidate on symptomatology and learning in disturbed children.Am J Psychiatry. 1963;120:458-464. doi:10.1176/ajp.120.5.458Lange KW, Reichl S, Lange KM, Tucha L, Tucha O.The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2010;2(4):241-255. doi:10.1007/s12402-010-0045-8The Washington Post.Attention deficit disorder.Gabay M.The Federal Controlled Substances Act: Schedules and pharmacy registration.Hosp Pharm. 2013;48(6):473-474. doi:10.1310/hpj4806-473Kugel RB, Scherz RG, Seidel HM, et al.Medication for hyperkinetic children.Pediatrics. 1975;55(4):560-562. doi:10.1542/peds.55.4.560N.A.American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children with Disabilities, Committee on Drugs: Medication for children with an attention deficit disorder.Pediatrics. 1987;80(5):758-760.Colson ER.Medication for children with attention disorders.Pediatrics. 1997;99(6):922-923.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Drug approval package: Strattera (atomoxetine hydrochloride) capsules.Sanders S, Thomas R, Glasziou P, Doust J.A review of changes to the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder age of onset criterion using the checklist for modifying disease definitions.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):357. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2337-7Fredriksen M, Dahl AA, Martinsen EW, Klungsøyr O, Haavik J, Peleikis DE.Effectiveness of one-year pharmacological treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): An open-label prospective study of time in treatment, dose, side-effects and comorbidity.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;24(12):1873-1884. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.09.013Cleveland Clinic.ADHD medication.Additional ReadingMayes R, Rafalovich A.Suffer the restless children: The evolution of ADHD and paediatric stimulant use, 1900—80.Hist Psychiatry. 2007;18(4):435-57. doi:10.1177/0957154X06075782Palmer ED, Finger S.An early description of ADHD (inattentive subtype): Dr Alexander Crichton and ’mental restlessness’(1798).Child Psychol Psychiatry Rev. 2003;6(2):66-73. doi:10.1111/1475-3588.00324

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children’s mental health: Data & statistics.Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Did DaVinci Have ADHD? Why Do We Want to Know?Martinez-Badía J, Martinez-Raga J.Who says this is a modern disorder? The early history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(4):379-386. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i4.379Bradley C.The behavior of children receiving benzedrine.Am J Psychiatry. 1937;94(4):577-585. doi:10.1176/ajp.94.3.577Freed H, Peifer CA.Treatment of hyperkinetic emotionally disturbed children with prolonged administration of chlorpromazine.Am J Psychiatry. 1956;113(1):22-26. doi:10.1176/ajp.113.1.22Conners CK, Eisenberg L.The effects of methylphenidate on symptomatology and learning in disturbed children.Am J Psychiatry. 1963;120:458-464. doi:10.1176/ajp.120.5.458Lange KW, Reichl S, Lange KM, Tucha L, Tucha O.The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2010;2(4):241-255. doi:10.1007/s12402-010-0045-8The Washington Post.Attention deficit disorder.Gabay M.The Federal Controlled Substances Act: Schedules and pharmacy registration.Hosp Pharm. 2013;48(6):473-474. doi:10.1310/hpj4806-473Kugel RB, Scherz RG, Seidel HM, et al.Medication for hyperkinetic children.Pediatrics. 1975;55(4):560-562. doi:10.1542/peds.55.4.560N.A.American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children with Disabilities, Committee on Drugs: Medication for children with an attention deficit disorder.Pediatrics. 1987;80(5):758-760.Colson ER.Medication for children with attention disorders.Pediatrics. 1997;99(6):922-923.U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Drug approval package: Strattera (atomoxetine hydrochloride) capsules.Sanders S, Thomas R, Glasziou P, Doust J.A review of changes to the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder age of onset criterion using the checklist for modifying disease definitions.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):357. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2337-7Fredriksen M, Dahl AA, Martinsen EW, Klungsøyr O, Haavik J, Peleikis DE.Effectiveness of one-year pharmacological treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): An open-label prospective study of time in treatment, dose, side-effects and comorbidity.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;24(12):1873-1884. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.09.013Cleveland Clinic.ADHD medication.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Children’s mental health: Data & statistics.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).Did DaVinci Have ADHD? Why Do We Want to Know?

Martinez-Badía J, Martinez-Raga J.Who says this is a modern disorder? The early history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.World J Psychiatry. 2015;5(4):379-386. doi:10.5498/wjp.v5.i4.379

Bradley C.The behavior of children receiving benzedrine.Am J Psychiatry. 1937;94(4):577-585. doi:10.1176/ajp.94.3.577

Freed H, Peifer CA.Treatment of hyperkinetic emotionally disturbed children with prolonged administration of chlorpromazine.Am J Psychiatry. 1956;113(1):22-26. doi:10.1176/ajp.113.1.22

Conners CK, Eisenberg L.The effects of methylphenidate on symptomatology and learning in disturbed children.Am J Psychiatry. 1963;120:458-464. doi:10.1176/ajp.120.5.458

Lange KW, Reichl S, Lange KM, Tucha L, Tucha O.The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2010;2(4):241-255. doi:10.1007/s12402-010-0045-8

The Washington Post.Attention deficit disorder.

Gabay M.The Federal Controlled Substances Act: Schedules and pharmacy registration.Hosp Pharm. 2013;48(6):473-474. doi:10.1310/hpj4806-473

Kugel RB, Scherz RG, Seidel HM, et al.Medication for hyperkinetic children.Pediatrics. 1975;55(4):560-562. doi:10.1542/peds.55.4.560

N.A.American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children with Disabilities, Committee on Drugs: Medication for children with an attention deficit disorder.Pediatrics. 1987;80(5):758-760.

Colson ER.Medication for children with attention disorders.Pediatrics. 1997;99(6):922-923.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Drug approval package: Strattera (atomoxetine hydrochloride) capsules.

Sanders S, Thomas R, Glasziou P, Doust J.A review of changes to the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder age of onset criterion using the checklist for modifying disease definitions.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):357. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2337-7

Fredriksen M, Dahl AA, Martinsen EW, Klungsøyr O, Haavik J, Peleikis DE.Effectiveness of one-year pharmacological treatment of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): An open-label prospective study of time in treatment, dose, side-effects and comorbidity.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2014;24(12):1873-1884. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.09.013

Cleveland Clinic.ADHD medication.

Mayes R, Rafalovich A.Suffer the restless children: The evolution of ADHD and paediatric stimulant use, 1900—80.Hist Psychiatry. 2007;18(4):435-57. doi:10.1177/0957154X06075782Palmer ED, Finger S.An early description of ADHD (inattentive subtype): Dr Alexander Crichton and ’mental restlessness’(1798).Child Psychol Psychiatry Rev. 2003;6(2):66-73. doi:10.1111/1475-3588.00324

Mayes R, Rafalovich A.Suffer the restless children: The evolution of ADHD and paediatric stimulant use, 1900—80.Hist Psychiatry. 2007;18(4):435-57. doi:10.1177/0957154X06075782

Palmer ED, Finger S.An early description of ADHD (inattentive subtype): Dr Alexander Crichton and ’mental restlessness’(1798).Child Psychol Psychiatry Rev. 2003;6(2):66-73. doi:10.1111/1475-3588.00324

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