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Amphetamines, growth hormone and narcolepsy.
Author(s) -
Parkes JD,
Debono AG,
Jenner P,
Walters J
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1977.tb00722.x
Subject(s) - narcolepsy , amphetamine , endocrinology , growth hormone , hormone , medicine , apomorphine , chemistry , plasma concentration , pharmacology , dopamine , modafinil , dopaminergic
1 Plasma amphetamine and growth hormone levels have been measured in eight normal and twenty‐six narcoleptic subjects following a single dose of (+)‐amphetamine (20 mg) or (‐)‐amphetamine (20 mg) by mouth. 2 Peak plasma levels and the shape of the plasma amphetamine‐time curve were similar with both isomers in normal and narcoleptic subjects. 3 In most normal subjects both (+)‐and (‐)‐amphetamine (20 mg) caused an increase in the plasma concentration of growth hormone. The two isomers were approximately equipotent in this respect. Neither (+)‐ nor (‐)‐ amphetamine (20 mg) caused an increase in plasma growth hormone concentration in narcoleptics. 4 Following amphetamine (30 mg), two of six narcoleptic subjects had an increase in plasma growth hormone concentration. 5 Levodopa (250 mg) with (‐)‐alpha‐methyldopa hydrazine 25 mg (Sinemet) by mouth, caused a rise in plasma growth hormone concentration in most normal subjects. The magnitude of the Sinemet‐ induced rise in plasma growth hormone concentration in narcoleptics was less than in normal subjects.