A comparison of dextro-amphetamine and racemic-amphetamine in the treatment of the hyperkinetic syndrome or minimal brain dysfunction

Dis Nerv Syst. 1976 Jan;37(1):14-6.

Abstract

In a double-blind trial of placebo, dextro-amphetamine, racemic-amphetamine, and methylphenidate, each used for a week, in 48 children with the diagnosis of Minimal Brain Dysfunction or Hyperkinetic Syndrome, it was found that although on the average dextro-amphetamine as well as methylphenidate was significantly superior to racemic-amphetamine, with side effects about the same, in some cases racemic-amphetamine was superior to both dextro-amphetamine and methylphenidate. In 20 cases, improvement was about the same for both the dextro and racemic forms; of these 20, side effects were absent for both in 10 patients; dextro-amphetamine showed fewer side effects in 3 patients, and racemic-amphetamine showed fewer side effects in 7 patients. In 20 other patients, dextro-amphetamine resulted in greater clinical improvement than racemic-amphetamine, while in 7 cases the reverse was true.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Controlled Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Amphetamine / administration & dosage
  • Amphetamine / adverse effects
  • Amphetamine / therapeutic use*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Dextroamphetamine / administration & dosage
  • Dextroamphetamine / adverse effects
  • Dextroamphetamine / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Evaluation
  • Humans
  • Hyperkinesis / drug therapy*
  • Individuality
  • Methylphenidate / administration & dosage
  • Methylphenidate / adverse effects
  • Methylphenidate / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Methylphenidate
  • Amphetamine
  • Dextroamphetamine