A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of sustained-release dextroamphetamine for treatment of methamphetamine addiction

• Published in: Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics Vol. 89; no. 2; p. 276
• Main Authors: Galloway, G P, Buscemi, R, Coyle, J R, Flower, K, Siegrist, J D, Fiske, L A, Baggott, M J, Li, L, Polcin, D, Chen, C Y A, Mendelson, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.2011
• Subjects: Adult; Amphetamine-Related Disorders - drug therapy; Delayed-Action Preparations; Dextroamphetamine - administration & dosage; Dextroamphetamine - adverse effects; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Medication Adherence; Methamphetamine - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1532-6535
• DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2010.307

Sixty treatment-seeking individuals with methamphetamine (MA) dependence entered a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of oral dextroamphetamine (d-AMP) as a replacement therapy for MA dependence. The subjects took 60 mg sustained-release d-AMP for 8 weeks, during which time they received eight 50-min sessions of individual psychotherapy. Adverse events and urine toxicology for MA were assessed two times a week. There were no serious adverse events. Urine samples containing <1,000 ng/ml of MA were classified as negative for MA. The MA-negative scores in the d-AMP group (3.1 ± SD 4.6) were no higher than those in the placebo group (3.3 ± SD 5.3; P > 0.05). However, withdrawal and craving scores were significantly lower in the d-AMP group (P < 0.05 for both). Although subjects taking d-AMP did not reduce their use of MA, the significant reductions observed in withdrawal and craving scores in this group support the need for further exploration of d-AMP as a pharmacologic intervention for MA dependence, possibly at higher doses.