FDA approves new ADHD drug for children, the first in more than a decade

[Fox 9 News, April 06, 2021] U.S. regulators have approved the first new drug in over a decade for children with ADHD, which causes inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

The Food and Drug Administration has OK’d Qelbree for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children ages 6 to 17. Unlike nearly all other ADHD medicines, Qelbree is not a stimulant or a controlled substance, making it harder to abuse than older drugs. That’s been a problem with earlier ADHD treatments like Ritalin, nearly all of which contain the stimulants amphetamine or methylphenidate.

Allina Health child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Mary Beth Lardizabal talked with Fox 9 News about why it's important to have new options for treating ADHD.