Summary
Pindolol 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. No registered clinical trial in this database tests Pindolol specifically in ADHD. The evidence below comes from published literature only, so any clinical signal has not yet been tested prospectively against this condition in a registered study. The literature layer holds 2 publications for this pair: 1 meta-analysis and 1 clinical trial publication. Publication years run from 1996 to 2018. 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%.
Evidence table
| Evidence tier | A · Strong |
|---|---|
| Evidence score | 26.0 (trials 0.0, literature 6.0, tier 15, approved bonus 5.0) |
| Registered trials | 0 total: 0 recruiting, 0 active / not yet recruiting, 0 completed, 0 other |
| Linked publications | 2 (1 meta-analysis, 1 clinical trial publication) |
| Agent type | Drug (Small molecule) |
| Development stage (any indication) | Approved |
| Mechanism / class | Not recorded |
| Data sources | DGIdb |
| Linked via biomarker / target | ADRA2C |
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trial scores by status (recruiting / active / enrolling 3, completed 2.5, not yet recruiting 2, unknown 1, terminated / withdrawn / suspended 0.5) plus a phase bonus (phase 3-4 +2, phase 2 +1, phase 1 +0.5).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
No registered trial links Pindolol to ADHD in the current OSMF trial extract.
Published literature
- Meta-analysis Efficacy and safety of drugs for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a network meta-analysisPadilha SCOS, Virtuoso S, Tonin FS et al. · European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2018 · PMID 29460165
- Clinical trial publication Pindolol and methylphenidate in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Clinical efficacy and side-effectsBuitelaar JK, van der Gaag RJ, Swaab-Barneveld H et al. · Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines · 1996 · PMID 8807439
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 DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target ADRA2C. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pindolol approved for ADHD?
Pindolol 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 Pindolol in clinical trials for ADHD?
No registered clinical trial in this database tests Pindolol specifically in ADHD. The evidence below comes from published literature only, so any clinical signal has not yet been tested prospectively against this condition in a registered study.
What does the evidence show for Pindolol in ADHD?
Synthesis-level literature links Pindolol to ADHD, but no registered trial in this database tests the pair, so the evidence is observational, pooled from other indications, or pre-dates registry practice. OSMF's existing evidence tier for this pair is A (Strong), derived from the strength of the disease association recorded in DGIdb, in this case via the biomarker or target ADRA2C. The tier describes how well the drug-disease link is documented, not how well the drug works.
Cite this page
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov, PubMed, Open Targets, ChEMBL, DGIdb and the OSMF therapeutic agent database. Last updated 2026-07-05. Page built 2026-10-07.