Accounting for all included outcomes, our results support methylphenidate in children and adolescents, and amphetamines in adults, as the first pharmacological choice for ADHD. In fact, in adults, amphetamines were not only the most efficacious compounds, as rated by clinicians and by self-report, but also as well tolerated as methylphenidate and the only compounds with better acceptability than placebo. In children and adolescents, even though amphetamines were marginally superior to methylphenidate according to clinicians' ratings, methylphenidate was the only compound with better acceptability than placebo and, unlike amphetamines, was not worse than placebo in terms of tolerability. Additionally, our results on secondary outcomes highlight the importance of monitoring weight and blood pressure changes with atomoxetine as much as with stimulants.
