Dextroamphetamine for Epilepsy

Abstract

OUR EXPERIENCE supports the findings of the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program, prepared by Jick,¹which did not confirm the relationship of amphetamine therapy to the development of Hodgkin disease described by Newell et al.² Over the past 30 years, we have prescribed the amphetamines, primarily dextroamphetamine sulfate (Dexedrine), to at least 10,000 epileptic patients and are impressed with their singular freedom from untoward reactions. Some of these patients have taken with impunity an amphetamine daily for periods ranging from 20 to 30 years. It is noteworthy that we have not observed the occurrence of lymphadenopathy, pseudolymphoma, lymphocytic or lymphoblastic lymphosarcoma, or Hodgkin disease in any of our patients receiving amphetamines during this period of time. We have also treated approximately 1,300 children with the hyperkinetic behavioral syndrome, including 400 without a concomitant seizure disorder, with daily amphetamine therapy. Prolonged follow-up study of this group did not disclose