The Science of ADHD: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Chris Chandler

Author:Chris Chandler
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 1405162341
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Published: 2010-07-27T21:00:00+00:00

Pemoline

Pharmacology

Once marketed as Cylert, pemoline has been used to a lesser extent in the treatment of ADHD since 1975. Unlike methylphenidate and amphetamine, pemoline has no effect on noradrenergic systems (see [837]). Pemoline action is to increase DA release and block its reuptake [838–839]. The half-life of pemoline is 8.6 hours [840], with some finding effects still after 7 hours [841]. Therefore the advantage of pemoline is that a single dose can last a long time, thereby avoiding multiple dosing [837].

Clinical effects

There are comparatively few studies that have looked at pemoline in ADHD. Back in the days of minimal brain dysfunction, pemoline was seen to have a beneficial effect especially because of its duration of action [842–843]. In a study of ADHD children using a number of outcome measures, pemoline was seen as an effective treatment [844]. It was associated with an improvement in college students [845], in adolescents [846], and in adults it was better than placebo [847], but there appears to be a reduced effect of pemoline in adults because of adverse effects [848]. Whilst a benefit of pemoline over methylphenidate was seen in one study, adverse reactions to pemoline were greater and sufficient to prevent further use [849]. Another benefit with pemoline is its lack of abuse potential [850]. However, one paper does report a case study of pemoline abuse, but this was induced by prior amphetamine abuse [851].

Side-effects

One of the recurrent side-effects of pemoline that is reported is its hepatotoxicity. This can range from increases in liver enzymes through to full liver failure [852–854]. Such was the concern that the manufacturers stated it should not be a first-line medication for ADHD [837]. In contrast the effects of pemoline on growth appear to be transient [855]. Like methylphenidate, pemoline induces insomnia [841, 844] and is associated with abdominal pain and headaches [837].

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.