SNRI Viloxazine May Be Reintroduced as ADHD Treatment
The pharmaceutical company Supernus identifies older drugs that may be repurposed to treat other disorders. The company believes it may have found a new use for the discontinued antidepressant viloxazine, as a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Viloxazine is a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI, that was approved in Europe but not in the US and was eventually removed from the market due to competition from other drugs. Its structure and mechanism of action resemble those of the ADHD treatment atomoxetine, so Supernus has begun trials of viloxazine for ADHD in adults.
At the 2015 meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the researchers reported that compared to placebo, viloxazine was about twice as likely to reduce ADHD symptoms. Side effects included nausea, decreased appetite, headache, and insomnia. Supernus hopes to create an extended release form of the drug for both adults and children.
