Disease × agent evidence record

Amphetamine for ADHD: evidence, trials and status

Amphetamine has both completed registered trials and synthesis-level publications linked to ADHD. That is the strongest profile in this database, but the summaries here do not extract effect sizes, so read the linked reviews for direction and magnitude of benefit.

8 registered trials 0 recruiting 18 publications Evidence tier A · Strong Score 79.0
Research Tracker › Pairs › ADHD › Amphetamine
Research map, not treatment advice. This page aggregates registry and literature records. It does not evaluate efficacy, dosing or safety for any individual. Discuss any treatment decision with a qualified clinician.

Summary

Amphetamine has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in ADHD would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for ADHD. ClinicalTrials.gov lists 8 registered trials linking Amphetamine to ADHD: 7 have completed; 1 is terminated, withdrawn, suspended or of unknown status. The most advanced is Phase 4 (NCT01552902). It plans or enrolled 549 participants. Registration activity spans 2007 to 2018. The literature layer holds 18 publications for this pair: 5 Cochrane reviews, 4 meta-analyses, 4 systematic reviews and 5 clinical trial publications. Publication years run from 2019 to 2026. Because at least one synthesis-level source exists (systematic review, meta-analysis or Cochrane review), this pair has been assessed beyond single studies, although the synthesis may concern a different indication.

The RepurpOS disease-intelligence file for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder ranks 305 candidate therapeutics from Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and PubMed; only a minority carry direct clinical evidence, and this page covers one of those. Spontaneous remission context recorded for the condition: Spontaneous remission by adulthood: 30-70% symptom reduction (depending on definition); functionally impairing ADHD persists into adulthood in 50-65% of childhood cases; DSMIV criteria met in adulthood in ~50%.

Open in Repurposing ExplorerADHD hubADHD biomarkers & interventionsChEMBLOpen Targets

Evidence table

Evidence tierA · Strong
Evidence score79.0 (trials 29.0, literature 30.0, tier 15, approved bonus 5.0)
Registered trials8 total: 0 recruiting, 0 active / not yet recruiting, 7 completed, 1 other
Linked publications18 (5 Cochrane reviews, 5 clinical trial publications, 4 meta-analyses, 4 systematic reviews)
Agent typeDrug (Small molecule)
Development stage (any indication)Approved
Mechanism / classNot recorded
Data sourcesOpen Targets, ChEMBL
Linked via biomarker / targetADORA1
How the evidence score is calculated
  • Each registered trial scores by status (recruiting / active / enrolling 3, completed 2.5, not yet recruiting 2, unknown 1, terminated / withdrawn / suspended 0.5) plus a phase bonus (phase 3-4 +2, phase 2 +1, phase 1 +0.5). The trial component is capped at 30.
  • Each literature item scores by design (Cochrane review 5, meta-analysis 4, systematic review 3, RCT 3, clinical trial publication 2, curated reference 1.5, other PubMed record 1). The literature component is capped at 30.
  • The existing evidence tier adds 15 (A / Strong), 10 (B / Moderate), 5 (C / Preliminary) or 0 (D / Anecdotal).
  • Agents approved for any indication (max clinical phase 4) add 5, because an approved agent has an established safety profile that lowers the barrier to repurposing trials.
  • The score ranks what has been studied, not what works. It does not read effect sizes or directions of effect.

Registered clinical trials

NCT IDTitleStatusPhaseEnrolment
NCT01552902Effectiveness of Vyvanse Compared to Concerta in Adolescents With Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
2012
completedPhase 4549
NCT01328756Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate 2-year Safety Study in Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
2011
completedPhase 4314
NCT00753012Cardiovascular Study of Lisdexamfetamine in Healthy and Hypertensive Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Adults
2008
completedPhase 424
NCT01106430Comparison of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate With Atomoxetine HCl in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Subjects With an Inadequate Response to Methylphenidate
2010
completedPhase 3267
NCT03659929Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Study With Amphetamine Sulfate
2018
completedPhase 3320
NCT01711021Study to Evaluate Safety & Efficacy of d-Amphetamine Transdermal System vs Placebo in Children & Adolescents With ADHD
2012
completedPhase 2110
NCT00736255Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Smoking Cessation Study
2007
completedNot applicable32
NCT02259517An fMRI Study of Stimulant vs. Non-Stimulant Treatment of ADHD
2014
terminatedNot applicable38

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Published literature

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Mechanism and notes

No mechanism of action is recorded for this pair in the source databases.

OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in Open Targets and ChEMBL, in this case via the biomarker or target ADORA1. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.

Frequently asked questions

Is Amphetamine approved for ADHD?

Amphetamine has reached the approved stage (maximum clinical phase 4) for at least one indication, so its use in ADHD would be drug repurposing rather than first-in-human development. This does not mean it is approved for ADHD. Approval status for the specific indication should always be confirmed with the relevant regulator and prescribing information.

Is Amphetamine in clinical trials for ADHD?

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 8 registered trials linking Amphetamine to ADHD: 7 have completed; 1 is terminated, withdrawn, suspended or of unknown status. The most advanced is Phase 4 (NCT01552902). It plans or enrolled 549 participants. Registration activity spans 2007 to 2018.

What does the evidence show for Amphetamine in ADHD?

Amphetamine has both completed registered trials and synthesis-level publications linked to ADHD. That is the strongest profile in this database, but the summaries here do not extract effect sizes, so read the linked reviews for direction and magnitude of benefit. OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in Open Targets and ChEMBL, in this case via the biomarker or target ADORA1. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. Amphetamine for ADHD: evidence, trials and status. OSMF Research Tracker. Updated 2026-07-05. https://research.opensourcemed.info/pairs/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/amphetamine.html

Data: ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and the OSMF therapeutic agent database. Last updated 2026-07-05. Page built 2026-10-07.

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This is a research map, not treatment advice. Evidence tiers and scores summarise what has been studied, not whether a treatment works or is safe for you.