<p>58218 Modafinil Reduces Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in both Male and Female Children and Adolescents Diana Lynn Mentor: Sharon Wigal Previous studies have shown that modafinil improves symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with fewer side effects than commonly prescribed stimulant medications. To test this hypothesis, a 9-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design was used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatment with a new formulation of modafinil for children and adolescents, aged 6 to 17, with a clinical diagnosis of ADHD. A second hypothesis was that males taking modafinil would show a greater reduction of ADHD symptoms than females because, according to one previous study, males have a slower clearance rate for modafinil than females. Results from the ADHD Rating Scale IV (School Version and Home Version), showed significant improvement in subjects using modafinil compared to placebo; however, there were no gender differences in the response to treatment with modafinil, as both males and females experienced similar reductions in their ADHD symptoms. Modafinil was generally well tolerated with few adverse events. Headache, sleeping problems (such as insomnia and prolonged sleep latency), change in appetite, and rash were the most common side effects. Almost all of the reported side effects were resolved over time with continued treatment. Limitations to this study included a small sample size (n = 19), unequal gender distribution (17 males and 2 females), and a study period that was too short to determine the long-term effects of modafinil. Although it is not certain what the long-term effects are, modafinil holds promise as a novel treatment for ADHD.</p>