Psychostimulants in supportive care

Psychostimulant medications have been used clinically and investigated in p sychiatric populations, the medically ill, cancer patients and healthy peop le. This article discusses the pharmacology of dextroamphetamine, methylphe nidate, pemoline (and other psychostimulants such as caffeine and ephedrine ), their use in general medicine and cancer care, side effects, and abuse p otential. Therapeutic use in children is addressed only insofar as it illus trates facets of their use in adults.