Pemoline and urinary excretion of catecholamines and indoleamines in children with attention deficit disorder

Am J Psychiatry. 1986 Mar;143(3):359-62. doi: 10.1176/ajp.143.3.359.

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that any change in urinary noradrenergic excretion accompanies drug-induced improvement in attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, the authors gave pemoline (mean dose, 2.9 mg/kg of body weight) to 11 boys with this disorder in a 4-week open trial. Pemoline administration improved behavior but did not significantly change urinary catecholamine excretion. Serotonin excretion was unchanged, but phenylethylamine (PEA) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were significantly decreased. Clinical responders and nonresponders did not differ with respect to baseline urinary monoamine excretion or change in PEA and 5-HIAA excretion.

MeSH terms

  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / drug therapy*
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / urine
  • Child
  • Dextroamphetamine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / urine*
  • Male
  • Methylphenidate / therapeutic use
  • Norepinephrine / metabolism
  • Pemoline / therapeutic use*
  • Phenethylamines / urine*
  • Serotonin / urine*

Substances

  • Phenethylamines
  • Methylphenidate
  • Serotonin
  • Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid
  • Pemoline
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Norepinephrine