ADHD and Nicotine: Implications for Treatment

Abstract

It is now acknowledged that Attention-deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (ADHD) is not limited to children or adolescents. Regardless of culture, up to 4% of the adults in the general population might be diagnosed with ADHD, a disorder often accompanied by comorbid psychiatric disorders. Among those is Substance Abuse including cigarette smoking. Indeed, ADHD patients tend to start with drugs earlier than normal controls. Pharmacological treatments of ADHD chiefly encompass amphetamine salts, methylphenidate and atomoxetine with a good tolerance and effectiveness. These treatments are even better tolerated now that long-acting, extended-release formulations and transdermal delivery systems become available. But it is likely that some patients will still not respond, especially when comorbid disorders are associated. Other agents are being tested as future pharmacotherapies of ADHD. Here we propose a review of the literature concerned with the relationships between cigarette smoking and ADHD in adolescent and adult patients, and an overview of the future pharmacotherapies of ADHD related with nicotine receptor agonists.