ADHD drug lisdexamfetamine reduces meth addiction: Meth treatment hope found in ADHD drug

A prescription medication for ADHD has shown promise in treating methamphetamine dependence, Australian scientists say.

Results from the landmark trial found the psychostimulant lisdexamfetamine can drastically reduce the need to use methamphetamine among addicts.

Lead author and addiction medicine specialist Professor Nadine Ezzard, who is Director of the National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED), described the results as promising.

“There is currently no pharmacotherapy approved for treating methamphetamine dependence,” Professor Ezard said.

“While further research is needed, experienced clinicians could consider off-label prescription of lisdexamfetamine, with close monitoring of risks and benefits in line with current guidelines for psychostimulants, for people with methamphetamine use disorder.”

As part of the trial, Professor Ezard’s team, which is based at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Sydney, recruited 164 adults dependent on methamphetamine and who had reported using the drug on at least 14 of the previous 28 days.

Overall, those who received lisdexamfetamine had 8.8 fewer days of methamphetamine use on average over 12 weeks compared with those in the placebo group.

Those given the ADHD medication also had higher self-reported rates of treatment effectiveness (2.9 times higher), and treatment satisfaction (3.8 times higher) compared to participants given placebo.