This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

A Comparison of Methylphenidate and Dextroamphetamine

Alan J. Zametkin, MD; Farouk Karoum, PhD; Markku Linnoila, MD, PhD; Judith L. Rapoport, MD; Gerald L. Brown, MD; Lyn-W Chuang, MS; Richard Jed Wyatt, MD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1985;42(3):251-255.

Abstract
• Children with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity were given either methylphenidate hydrochloride or dextroamphetamine sulfate to compare the effects on urinary excretion of catecholamines, indoleamines, and phenylethylamine (PEA). Methylphenidate's effects were distinctly different from those of dextroamphetamine. After methylphenidate administration, both norepinephrine (NE) and normetanephrine (NMN) concentrations were significantly elevated, and there was a 22% increase in excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG). In contrast, after dextroamphetamine treatment, MHPG excretion was significantly reduced and NE and NMN values were unchanged. Excretion of dopamine and metabolites was unchanged by either drug. Urinary PEA excretion was not significantly changed after methylphenidate treatment, but increased 1,600% in response to dextroamphetamine. Methylphenidate treatment did not significantly alter serotonin or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion. Effects of dextroamphetamine were not tested.

Author Affiliations
From the Child Psychiatry (Drs Zametkin and Rapoport), Adult Psychiatry (Drs Karoum and Wyatt and Ms Chuang), Clinical Psychobiology (Dr Linnoila), and Biological Psychiatry (Dr Brown) Branches, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md, and St Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, DC (Drs Karoum and Wyatt and Ms Chuang).

Footnotes
Accepted for publication April 13, 1984.

Reprint requests to Child Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bldg 10, Room 6N240, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20205 (Dr Rapoport).

This research was carried out while Dr Zametkin was a Child Fellow at the George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Norepinephrine and Dopamine Metabolites and Educational Variables in Boys With Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity
Shekim et al.
J Child Neurol 1987;2:50-56.
ABSTRACT