Effects of bupropion, nomifensine and dexamphetamine on performance, subjective feelings, autonomic variables and electroencephalogram in healthy volunteers.

Abstract

1 Bupropion, a novel antidepressant, has been compared with nomifensine and dexamphetamine in a controlled double blind trial in 12 healthy volunteers. 2 Signals detected in an auditory vigilance test were increased by dexamphetamine 5 and 10 mg when compared with lactose dummy, but unaffected by bupropion 100 and 200 mg and nomifensine 100 mg. Auditory reaction time was decreased by dexamphetamine but unaffected by bupropion and nomifensine. 3 Heart rate was increased after all active treatments but the largest rise followed dexamphetamine 10 mg which differed from both lactose dummy and all other active treatments. Systolic blood pressure was higher after dexamphetamine 10 mg than all other treatments, none of which differed from lactose. No changes occurred in diastolic blood pressure. Pupil size increased after dexamphetamine 10 mg but no changes followed other treatments. 4 Visual analogue scales showed that subjects were more alert, attentive, proficient, excited, interested and elated after dexamphetamine but no changes followed bupropion or nomifensine. Subjects were able to recognise that they had received an active drug only after dexamphetamine 10 mg.5 Increased activity was seen in the 7.5-13.5 Hz and 13.5-26 Hz frequency bands of the electroencephalogram after dexamphetamine 10 mg but not after bupropion or nomifensine. 6 These findings in man suggest that neither of these two, non-sedative antidepressants possess amphetamine-like stimulant activity, and are discussed in relation to the animal pharmacology of the drugs.

An fMRI Study of the Effect of Amphetamine on Brain Activity,

“…None of the differences between amphetamine and placebo were significant. Hamilton et al 1983). The brain areas activated by the tasks, and those increased by amphetamine, correspond with areas known to be involved in auditory or motor performance.…”

“…Amphetamine has well-documented effects on psychomotor and cognitive function (Koelega 1993), and there is some evidence that its effects on vigilance are more pronounced than its effects on motor performance. Two previous studies have shown that low doses of amphetamine (5 to 10 mg) improve performance of an auditory vigilance task, while leaving a simple motor task (finger tapping) unaffected (Bye et al 1973;Hamilton et al 1983). This study of brain activity after administration of amphetamine and during performance of two tasks allowed us to examine the relationship between changes in regional brain activity and changes in behavior induced by the drug.…”

Amphetamine Primes Motivation to Gamble and Gambling-Related Semantic Networks in Problem Gamblers

“…AMPH is a potent psychomotor stimulant and has been shown to induce faster reaction times across a wide range of cognitive tasks (Hamilton et al, 1983;McKetin et al, 1999;Servan-Schreiber et al, 1998). Considering simply its generic stimulant properties, AMPH would be expected to induce faster reading speed irrespective of the type of stimulus.…”

Kjøring under påvirkning av amfetamin og metamfetamin

“…I noen av studiene er det anvendt enkle tester der forsøkspersonene for eksempel kun har utført én isolert arbeidsoppgave, mens andre studier har brukt komplekse testbatterier, inklusive kjøresimulator. Aktuelle dobbeltblinde studier der amfetamin i en eller flere ulike doser er sammenliknet mot placebo og/eller innbyrdes, er oppsummert i tabell 1 (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”

“…I perioden 1973-90 ble det utført flere studier av atferd relatert til oppmerksomhet etter inntak av amfetamin (12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Kvinner og menn i 30-årene, både rusnaive og rusbrukere, ble gitt amfetamin i engangsdoser på 1-35 mg. Deltakerne gjennomgikk deretter hørselstester, visuelle tester, psykologiske selvmonitoreringstester, motoriske tester m.m.…”