358 Pemoline
persons who are also taking pemoline. Debate exists about how dangerous
pemoline is to liver function when no other drugs are being taken, but the
debate has limited practical significance because many patients taking pemo-
line receive other drugs as well. Because of concern about liver damage, par-
ents are supposed to sign a written consent form before their children begin
pemoline therapy.
Abuse factors.Although pemoline is a scheduled substance, a review of
reports covering the first 10 years of its medical availability in the United
States found little evidence of addiction or abuse. A Norwegian review of
pemoline use boldly described it as “a stimulant which cannot be abused.”^1
When given a choice of drugs, animals show no particular interest in pemo-
line, a sign of low abuse potential. Nonetheless, a case report does exist of a
pemoline addict who developed a paranoid psychosis that went away after
stopping the drug. A British medical practitioner reported that drug misusers
were supplementing their amphetamine habit with pemoline.
An experiment tested pemoline’s ability to help reduce cocaineusage
among persons receivingmethadonetreatment (meaning the persons were
addicted to cocaine andheroinboth). Results were unencouraging. In contrast,
favorable response in an ADHD alcoholic caused researchers to predict that
pemoline may be useful for treatingalcoholaddiction. Mice experimentation
shows that pemoline reduces effects produced by THC, considered the pri-
mary drug inmarijuana.
Drug interactions.Pemoline is suspected of interfering with epilepsy med-
icines. It can boost mono amine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressants and
urinary acidifers (the latter action interfering with pemoline’s psychostimulant
effects).
Cancer.Rat experiments do not indicate any cancer risk from pemoline.
Pregnancy.Experiments with rabbits and rats reveal no harm to fetal de-
velopment, but influence on human fetal development is unknown.
Additional information.When tested on mentally handicapped workers,
magnesium pemoline (CAS RN 18968-99-5) brought on the kinds of temper-
ament modification associated with caffeine but failed to increase either pro-
ductivity or time worked. Two cocaine addicts who appeared to have mild
ADHD were able to reduce their intake of cocaine while receiving magnesium
pemoline, a result leading the scientific investigators to wonder if magnesium
pemoline might have potential for helping to break cocaine addiction. Animal
experiments have shown that both pemoline and magnesium pemoline can
provide protection against atomic radiation.
Additional scientific information may be found in:Bostic, J.Q., et al. “Pemoline Treatment of Adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyper-
activity Disorder: A Short-Term Controlled Trial.”Journal of Child and Adolescent
Psychopharmacology10 (2000): 205–16.
Elizur, A., I. Wintner, and S. Davidson. “The Clinical and Psychological Effects of
Pemoline in Depressed Patients—A Controlled Study.”International Pharmaco-
psychiatry14 (1979): 127–34.
Honda, Y., and Y. Hishikawa. “Long Term Treatment of Narcolepsy and Excessive