DONATIONS AT WORK HIGHLIGHTS 2024/25

Precision Prescriptions

For many children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the condition can be managed with medication. When the right treatment is found, it can ease challenges like inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, which opens the door to greater success in school, stronger relationships and a boost in self-esteem.

However, determining which medication — and how much — will be most helpful for each child has traditionally been a trial-and-error process. This can be a challenging time for families, as some medications may have no positive effects for their child or can even cause adverse reactions.

Thanks to community support, Calgary is home to the leading-edge Pharmacogenomics of Stimulant Treatment Response (PGx-STaR) study with a goal of helping families understand which medications and dosages are likely to be most successful for a child based on their DNA.

A simple saliva sample provides the DNA breakdown that scientists need to predict how a child will respond to various medications. There’s also an option to provide a blood sample (collected through needleless technology), which offers even more specific information on how efficiently and quickly a drug metabolizes in an individual’s system – helpful for adjusting dosages.

Data collected from participants aged six to 24 will help researchers pinpoint patterns and identify genetic biomarkers to make treatment more streamlined and reliable for families, says project coordinator Sam Siu.

“We know nearly a third of people prescribed medication for ADHD don’t respond well to the first one they try,” she says. “They often just bear with the side effects or stop taking medication altogether when there might be a different drug that would be helpful for them instead.”
 

Supporting families now and into the future

Families like Adeline’s ….
Eight-year-old Adeline Hunter, from Calgary, recently completed the study.

With a November birthday, Adeline was younger than most of her peers when she started school, and her mom, Allison, expected she might face some challenges because of that. However, throughout second and third grade it became apparent Adeline was struggling with more than being younger than her classmates.

“She had a really hard time sitting with a task,” says Allison. “She would get up and do mindless things when she was supposed to be sitting.”

Adeline couldn’t finish watching a whole movie, she would tell long-winded stories, hyperfocus on negative experiences and easily get her feelings hurt and then not be able to move on, Allison adds. These struggles were affecting her performance in school and her favourite extracurricular activity — speed skating — as well impacting her friendships.

Through a pediatrician and psychologist, Adeline was diagnosed with ADHD.

“I told her, ‘Your brain is going really fast. We just need to train it to slow down a little and focus on what you’re doing at the time,’” says Allison.

The first medication they tried escalated Adeline’s symptoms — especially around emotional regulation — over several weeks, which was hard on the whole family.

Knowing they are contributing to an invaluable dataset through PGx-STaR that will help direct other families to the right treatment the first time is amazing, says Allison.

These days, Adeline is on a new medication that is working well for her.

… and Emmett’s
Shortly after her eight-year-old son, Emmett, was diagnosed with ADHD, Jessica Wheeler saw an ad for PGx-STaR on Instagram. Though the family lives in southeastern B.C., she was excited they could participate and learn which medications would be most helpful for Emmett, all while advancing the knowledge that will support future families on a similar path.

Fortunately, the first medication Emmett was prescribed has been helpful in managing his symptoms. Jessica is glad to know their contribution to the study will help ensure other children receive the right medication as quickly as possible.

“There are so many medications out there and the trial-and-error approach can just be heart wrenching,” says Jessica. “Kids can’t understand why they have to stay on a medication that’s not working for them for two or three months. We want to do anything we can to alleviate that stress for other families.”