E. Heiligenstein et al., PEMOLINE THERAPY IN COLLEGE-STUDENTS WITH ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY, Journal of American college health, 45(1), 1996, pp. 35-39
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Public, Environmental & Occupation Heath","Education & Educational Research
Pemoline, a dopamine agonist, is effective in children with attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but its efficacy in adults is u
nknown. The authors studied the efficacy and safety of pemoline, using
retrospective chart review of treated students with ADHD over a 2-yea
r period. Forty students met diagnostic and treatment criteria; pemoli
ne was associated with much improved or very much improved Clinical Gl
obal Impression symptoms scores in 70% of the students during a treatm
ent period of 14 or more days. Severity of illness scores dropped from
4.11 to 3.01 between baseline and subsequent evaluation. Nine evaluab
le patients had adverse events, most commonly headaches, insomnia, and
decreased appetite. Five additional students, who failed to meet the
treatment-duration criterion, terminated because of severe initial ins
omnia. The authors concluded that pemoline is effective and safe in st
udents with ADHD and has a lower abuse potential than methylphenidate
and dextroamphetamine, the other two widely used, structurally dissimi
lar compounds, but controlled studies may be necessary before any fina
l conclusions are reached.