Li 2011.

Methods	An 8‐week, randomised, double‐blind, parallel study with 2 interventions: Methylphenidate Ningdong granule
Participants	Number of participants screened: 136 Number of participants included: 72 Number of participants randomised to methylphenidate: 36 Number followed up: 34 Number of withdrawals: 2 Diagnosis of ADHD: DSM‐IV (subtype: not stated) Age: mean 9.2, range 3‐13 years old IQ: almost all above 70 Sex: 23 males, 13 females Methylphenidate‐naïve: not stated Ethnicity: not stated Country: China Comorbidity: not stated Comedication: not stated Sociodemographics: not stated Inclusion criteria ADHD according to DSM‐IV Teacher and Parent ADHD Rating Scale (Dupau, 1991) > 20 Patient from the outpatient department of integrative medicine in paediatrics, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University and the department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology Exclusion criteria Taken anti‐ADHD medication prior to study Chronic medical condition including past history of cardiovascular disease, organic brain disorder, seizures Current abuse or dependence on drugs within 6 months
Interventions	Methylphenidate type: not stated Mean methylphenidate dosage: 1 mg/kg/day Administration schedule: not stated Duration of intervention: 8 weeks Treatment compliance: not stated
Outcomes	Serious adverse events: Side effects were systematically recorded and assessed using a checklist by the psychiatrist or parents anytime during the study No serious adverse effects were reported during the study Non‐serious adverse events: Blood was collected at the beginning and end of the trial No abnormal findings were observed in the blood, urine and stool routine tests
Notes	Sample calculation: no Ethics approval: all research procedures were permitted by the medical ethics committee of Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University Funding/vested interests: grants from the Chinese Medicine Administration Bureau of Shandong Province Authors' affiliations: not stated Key conclusions of the study authors: compared to methylphenidate, Ningdong granule is effective and safe for ADHD children in the short term, increases the homovanillic acid concentration in sera to regulate dopamine metabolism, and promises to be an alternative medication, safely and effectively Exclusion of methylphenidate non‐responders/children who have previously experienced adverse events on methylphenidate: no Supplemental information received through personal email correspondence with the study authors in April 2013 (Li 2013 [pers comm])