Understanding how ADHD medications affect sleep in children
Official title: ADHD and Sleep: Evaluating the Impact of Drug-Drug and Drug-Disease Interactions to Inform Care
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11128147 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different sleep medications affect children with ADHD, especially since many of them are already taking ADHD medications, to help find safer and better ways to improve their sleep.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $633,671 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH135875-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128147 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have been diagnosed with ADHD and are experiencing sleep disturbances.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have ADHD or are not experiencing sleep problems may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of various medications on sleep problems in children with ADHD. It focuses on five commonly prescribed sleep medications and examines their safety and potential adverse effects, particularly in youth who are already taking stimulant medications for ADHD. By analyzing the interactions between these drugs and the condition of ADHD, the study aims to provide clearer treatment recommendations for improving sleep in affected children. The research is motivated by the increasing prevalence of sleep issues among youth and the lack of rigorous safety data on these medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective treatment options for sleep problems in children with ADHD.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research specifically on the safety of sleep medications in youth with ADHD, similar studies have highlighted the need for better understanding of drug interactions and safety in pediatric populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bushnell, Greta — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Bushnell, Greta
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.