Amiloride Hydrochloride as an Effective Treatment for ADHD

This is an interventional treatment trial for ADHD focused on measuring ADHD, executive function, emotional self-regulation Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Medication naïve male or female adults ages 18-55 years.
2. A diagnosis of DSM-IV ADHD combined type based on clinical assessment by the study psychiatrist using the Conners Adult ADHD Diagnostic Interview;
3. proficiency in English;
4. A baseline score of 24 or more on the AISRS;
5. ability to swallow pills;
6. ability to report reliably, understand the nature of the study and sign an informed consent document as determined by the study psychiatrist

Exclusion Criteria:

We will exclude potential participants who:

1. have had pharmacologic treatment for ADHD in the past year;
2. are pregnant or nursing;
3. are Investigators or their immediate family (spouse, parent, child, grandparent, or grandchild);
4. have any serious, unstable medical illness including hepatic, renal, gastroenterological, respiratory, cardiovascular (including ischemic heart disease), endocrinologic, neurologic, immunologic, or hematologic disease;
5. have severe allergies or multiple adverse drug reactions;
6. have a current or past history of seizures;
7. meet current DSM-IV criteria for anxiety or depression or illicit substance abuse in prior six months (these exclusions are feasible because, although the lifetime comorbidity of ADHD with these disorders is high, we and others have shown that the presence of these disorders at the time of ascertainment for adult ADHD studies is less than 10%);
8. are judged by the study psychiatrist to be at serious suicidal risk.
9. have current or past diagnoses of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder;
10. have a history of hypersensitivity to amiloride or drug class members;
11. have a history of hyperkalemia, diabetes mellitus, renal disease or anuria;
12. have renal impairment Cr > 1.5; or
13. are taking potassium supplements, aldosterone antagonists, tacrolimus or ACE inhibitors.