Dr Michael Feld: New Liquid ADHD Treatment Has Benefits for Both Patients and Physicians

A new extended release oral suspension for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in patients 6 or older was approved by the FDA and would provide an option for patients seeking a liquid treatment instead of a pill or capsule. Michael Feld, MD, a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist in the Chicago area specializing in the treatment of ADHD, explained what the benefits of Adzenys ER from Neos Therapeutics are for both patients and physicians.

The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®): What are the benefits of the oral suspension formula?

Feld: Obviously oral medications, oral suspensions, have benefits for people who do not want to swallow capsules or pills. But there are also other benefits. One of the best benefits for physicians is that there is an ease of titration, you don’t have to have fixed capsule and pills sizes. So in a liquid form, you can titrate easier with your first prescription. And then for patients one of the best benefits is really the ease of fine-tuning your dose. There are so many dose ranges you can achieve that it’s different from a set amount of fixed capsules and pills sizes. So there’s a dosing flexibility for patients to optimize efficacy versus side effects or adverse events.

AJMC®: How often do you encounter situations in which a patient with ADHD would benefit from not having to swallow a pill?

Feld: I encounter it often. I know the data, there’s some data around the country that shows some 50% of kids would prefer not to swallow a pill or capsule and, believe it or not, up to 40% of adults often don’t like to or can’t. So, in my practice, I encounter it regularly. Given the option of an oral suspension, they would choose it over a pill or capsule.

AJMC®: How important is it for doctors and patients to have a different oral suspensions amphetamine option?

Feld: I think it’s great. It’s important because the more tools we have, the more options we have and we can obviously help patients with optimal treatment with less adverse events. So, I think it’s great to have as many good, quality products that have a good profile of efficacy, length of action, and adverse events. So, more options, then we have more ability to find patients that can really optimally respond.