Pharmacological treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents with epilepsy.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most frequent comorbidities in children with epilepsy with an increased risk of other psychiatric comorbidities and academic underachievement. In children with epilepsy, the attentive form is the most common clinical presentation in pediatric epilepsies. A systemic review and a consensus from the ILAE have been recently published on diagnosis, screening and management of ADHD in children with epilepsy. We give an overview of the pharmacological treatment of ADHD in children with epilepsy based on the lecture given at the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) French Chapter meeting, (October 2018, Lyon). Although only class II and class III studies are available, methylphenidate is the most appropriate pharmacological option for the treatment of ADHD in children with epilepsy with a limited risk of seizure worsening. The medical treatment should be used in combination of the global management including optimal antiepileptic drug treatment avoiding polytherapy, management of psychiatric comorbidities and support at school.