To sleep or not to sleep: a systematic review of the literature of pharmacological treatments of insomnia in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#adolescent #attention-deficit-disorder-with-hyperactivity #child #clonidine #glutamates

To sleep or not to sleep: a systematic review of the literature of pharmacological treatments of insomnia in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Barrett et al., 2013 | J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol | Systematic Review

Citation

Barrett Jessica R, Tracy Derek K, Giaroli Giovanni. To sleep or not to sleep: a systematic review of the literature of pharmacological treatments of insomnia in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2013-Dec;23(10):640-7. doi:10.1089/cap.2013.0059

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review assessed current evidence on sleep medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients, to establish appropriate guidance for clinicians faced with prescribing such medications. METHODS: Five articles (based on four pharmacological compounds) out of a total 337 were identified as evidence to guide pharmacological treatment of ADHD-related sleep disorders. Data regarding participant characteristics, measures of ADHD diagnosis, measures of sleep, and outcome data were extracted. RESULTS: Zolpidem and L-theanine both displayed a poor response in reducing sleep latency and increasing total sleep time, however L-theanine did produce an increase in sleep efficiency. Zolpidem produced high levels of side effects, leading to the largest dropout rate of all five studies. Clonidine reduced insomnia; and melatonin also exhibited a positive response, with reduced sleep latency, higher total sleep time, and higher sleep efficiency. CONCLUSIONS: There is a relative paucity of evidence for the pharmacological treatment of ADHD-related sleep disorders; therefore, further research should be conducted to replicate these findings and obtain reliable results.

Key Findings

Zolpidem and L-theanine both displayed a poor response in reducing sleep latency and increasing total sleep time, however L-theanine did produce an increase in sleep efficiency. Zolpidem produced high levels of side effects, leading to the largest dropout rate of all five studies. Clonidine reduced insomnia; and melatonin also exhibited a positive response, with reduced sleep latency, higher total sleep time, and higher sleep efficiency.

Outcomes Measured

  • sleep efficiency

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition insomnia

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
  • Child
  • Clonidine
  • Glutamates
  • Humans
  • Pyridines
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
  • Zolpidem

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: l-theanine

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09