ADHD medicine has a longer history than most people expect. In 1937, a Rhode Island psychiatrist noticed that an amphetamine improved school performance in children, and FDA's records list Ritalin's original approval in December 1955. Extended-release stimulants followed in 2000 and 2001, a non-stimulant was approved in 2002, and newer options have been added since, including viloxazine in 2021.

Key takeaways

  • In 1937, Charles Bradley reported that Benzedrine, an amphetamine, changed the behavior and school performance of children at a Rhode Island home. His work was largely ignored in child psychiatry for nearly 25 years.
  • Methylphenidate was first made in 1944. FDA's database lists Ritalin's original approval on December 5, 1955.
  • The diagnosis was renamed several times: hyperkinetic reaction of childhood (1968), attention deficit disorder (1980), and ADHD (1987).
  • FDA approved Concerta (2000), Adderall XR (2001), Strattera (2002), Vyvanse (2007), Intuniv (2009), and Qelbree (2021). Together they built today's mix of stimulant, extended-release, and non-stimulant options.
  • The history matters at the pharmacy. Amphetamine, methylphenidate, and lisdexamfetamine are Schedule II controlled substances, and several are on FDA's shortage list as of October 2026.

Where did ADHD treatment begin?

In 1937, psychiatrist Charles Bradley gave Benzedrine sulfate to children at the Emma Pendleton Bradley Home in Providence, Rhode Island. He was trying to relieve headaches. Instead, he noticed improved school performance, social interactions, and emotional responses. His first report, in the American Journal of Psychiatry, described 30 children ages 5 to 14.

Bradley was careful about what the drug could do. He wrote that this approach "in no sense replaces" changing a child's surroundings. A 2011 history of his work in the Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine says child psychiatry largely ignored his studies for nearly 25 years. They later proved to be an important forerunner of stimulant research.

When did methylphenidate arrive?

A 2010 review of ADHD history says Leandro Panizzon first made methylphenidate in 1944. It adds that Laufer and colleagues helped renew interest in stimulants for hyperactive children in 1957. FDA's Drugs@FDA database lists the original approval of Ritalin tablets (methylphenidate) on December 5, 1955. The 2011 Yale history adds that psychiatrists began prescribing Ritalin in 1956.

FDA's records also show that the application now covering Adderall tablets (mixed amphetamine salts) has an original approval date of January 19, 1960. That date marks the application's start. What a product is approved for has changed over the years, so check current labeling for today's uses.

Today, CDC calls stimulants the best-known and most widely used ADHD medicines, and says 70% to 80% of children taking them show fewer symptoms. CDC also notes they act quickly.

Why did ADHD have so many names?

The condition has been renamed as understanding changed. According to the 2010 review:

  • 1968 (DSM-II): Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood
  • 1980 (DSM-III): Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without hyperactivity
  • 1987 (DSM-III-R): Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, with a single symptom list
  • 1994 (DSM-IV): Three subtypes: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined

CDC still describes those three groups today, now called presentations. The shifting names are a reminder that ADHD was long misunderstood, and that early treatment rested on far less research than we have now.

How did extended-release and newer stimulant forms develop?

Several approvals in the 2000s changed which products people could use. FDA's approval records show:

  • August 1, 2000: Concerta, an extended-release methylphenidate tablet. FDA's letter described it for treatment of attention deficit disorder.
  • October 11, 2001: Adderall XR, an extended-release version of mixed amphetamine salts.
  • February 23, 2007: Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine) capsules. At approval, the indication was ADHD in children ages 6 to 12.

Extended-release products are designed to release medicine gradually, instead of all at once. They are separate products from the immediate-release versions, and a pharmacy may stock one and not the other. Our guide on how to find Vyvanse or generic lisdexamfetamine explains how this plays out today.

When did non-stimulants arrive?

Non-stimulant options came later:

  • November 26, 2002: Strattera (atomoxetine). FDA approved it for ADHD in children and adolescents ages 6 to 18 and in adults. A news report at the time called it the first non-stimulant approved for ADHD. It also reported that FDA saw no sign of abuse potential, so it would not be a controlled substance. MedlinePlus says atomoxetine works by raising norepinephrine, a brain chemical that helps control behavior. It also carries a warning that children and teens taking it are more likely to have suicidal thoughts.
  • September 2, 2009: Intuniv (guanfacine extended-release). FDA approved it for ADHD in children ages 6 to 17. MedlinePlus says guanfacine extended-release may work by affecting the part of the brain that controls attention and impulsivity.
  • April 2, 2021: Qelbree (viloxazine extended-release). FDA approved it for ADHD in patients ages 6 to 17. MedlinePlus says viloxazine also raises norepinephrine levels, and it carries a similar warning for children and teens.

CDC says non-stimulants work more slowly than stimulants, and that their effect can last up to 24 hours. Which type fits a person is a question for the prescriber.

What does this history mean for finding medicine today?

Federal drug rules list amphetamine, methylphenidate, and lisdexamfetamine as Schedule II substances, which is why they cannot be refilled and why each fill needs a prescription. Atomoxetine and guanfacine are not on that list.

As of October 2026, FDA's drug shortage database still lists three groups as "Currently in Shortage." They are amphetamine mixed salts tablets (first posted October 12, 2022), lisdexamfetamine capsules and chewable tablets (July 14, 2023), and methylphenidate extended-release tablets (July 26, 2023). Many manufacturers list products as available, so the picture varies by product and strength. Our ADHD medication shortage status post has the details. If you are looking for a specific strength, Needle phones pharmacies for you and reports which ones say they have it. You can start at app.findneedle.co.

Frequently asked questions

What was the first medicine used for ADHD?

Charles Bradley's 1937 Benzedrine study is widely treated as the starting point for stimulant treatment of children's behavior problems. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) was approved by FDA in 1955, and psychiatrists began prescribing it in 1956.

What was the first non-stimulant approved for ADHD?

A 2002 news report described Strattera (atomoxetine) as the first non-stimulant approved for ADHD. FDA's approval letter is dated November 26, 2002 and covers children and adolescents ages 6 to 18 and adults.

Is Ritalin the same as Adderall?

No. Ritalin is methylphenidate, and Adderall is a mix of amphetamine salts. Both are stimulants and both are Schedule II controlled substances, but they are different drugs. Whether one is right for a person is a prescriber's decision.

Why does ADHD have so many different names in older sources?

Diagnostic labels changed with each edition of the DSM, from hyperkinetic reaction of childhood in 1968 to attention deficit disorder in 1980 and ADHD in 1987.

Sources