The Dose-Response Relationship of Atomoxetine for the Treatment of Children With ADHD: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to meta-analytically estimate the dose-response relationship of atomoxetine for treating children with ADHD. METHODS: We systematically searched double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of atomoxetine for treating ADHD in children. The search was carried out in PubMed, Cochrane Library, CINHAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases, covering articles from their inception until January 20, 2023. In addition, a dose-response meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS: In this dose-response meta-analysis, 12 double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials involving 2,250 patients were included. The efficacy of atomoxetine increased up to a dosage of 1.4 mg/kg, after which it reached a plateau. CONCLUSIONS: The first dose-response meta-analysis of atomoxetine dosing for children with ADHD conducted here enhances the robustness of the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency dose recommendations.