Methylphenidate for ADHD also boosts voided volume, bladder capacity

Methylphenidate (MPH) may increase voided volume (VV) and bladder capacity (BC) when used as a treatment for children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), reports a new study.

The study included young volunteers (aged 7–17 years) who were categorized into two groups. The first had participants with ADHD but no voiding dysfunctions (VD), while the second were healthy controls. Participants in group 1 were treated with MPH. Outcomes included post-void residual volume (PVRV), assessed through ultrasounds, and lower urinary track symptoms (LUTS), evaluated using the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score.

In the ADHD group, the mean PVRV at baseline was 5.93±12.59 mL, while the average VV and BC values were 216.86±36.63 and 222.79±38.85 mL, respectively. Quality of life (QoL) score was 0.48±0.66 at baseline.

After 4 weeks of MPH treatment, the ADHD arm saw significant improvements in VV (232.09±37.48; p=0.001) and BC (237.09±39.45; p=0.002). However, this was not accompanied by similar changes in PVRV (p=0.253) and QoL (p=0.168).

In group 2, healthy controls had a baseline mean PVRV of 8.07±13.93 mL, and average VV and BC measurements of 239.48±37.95 and 247.56±41.51 mL, respectively. QoL at baseline was scored to be at 0.35±0.58. After 4 weeks, no significant changes in any of the measured parameters were reported (PVRV: p=0.075; VV: p=0.383; BC: p=0.215; QoL: p=0.103). Controls did not take MPH medication.

“Although there were statistically significant increases in VV and BC in these patients, these may not result in clinically significant improvements in LUTS in ADHD patients diagnosed with VD,” the researchers said. “The findings of this study may aid future studies aimed at understanding the mechanism underlying the effects of MPH on LUT.”