Figure 1 Pemoline

Although not structurally similar to the AMPHETAMINES, pemoline has similar PSYCHOMOTOR STIMULANT effects but only minimal effects on the cardiovascular system. Pemoline is often used therapeutically (despite being less effective than amphetamine or METHYLPHENIDATE) in the treatment of ATTENTION DEFICIT/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—a syndrome that first becomes evident during childhood and is characterized by excessive activity and difficulty in maintaining attention. Pemoline has the advantage of a long half-life, which means that dosing can be once daily, but clinical improvement can be delayed by three to four weeks after initiation of pemoline therapy. In addiction, the likelihood for abuse of pemoline appears substantially less than that of the amphetamines.