The Psychological Effects of Benzedrine Sulfate

Reifenstein, Edward C.; Davidoff, Eugene

doi:10.2307/1416660

Cited by 17 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…It has been reported that amphetamine, especially when the dose is heavy, tends initially to produce unpredictable, and at times paradoxical, effects (e.g., 2,13). With the knowledge at present available, it is apparently impossible to ascertain the optimum dose or time interval for eliciting any specific effect.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of amobarbital sodium and dexamphetamine sulfate on the conditioning of the eyeblink response.

Cm¹,

Trouton²

1958

Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of amobarbital sodium and dexamphetamine sulfate on the conditioning of the eyeblink response.

Cm¹,

Trouton²

1958

Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology

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“…Thus, there is an urgent need for new treatment approaches and drug development for bipolar depression. 1,12 Augmentation strategies with stimulants have been reported as early as the 1930s 13 with recent meta-analyses supporting the efficacy for bipolar depression 14 and major depressive episodes in unipolar and bipolar disorder. 15 Despite these encouraging data, there is little systematic investigation of these compounds in bipolar depression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive modafinil/armodafinil in bipolar depression: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

et al. 2020

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Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the dopaminergic‐enhancing agent modafinil/armodafinil (MoArm) as adjunctive treatment for bipolar depression. Methods A comprehensive search of major electronic databases was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adjunctive MoArm that included patients with bipolar I (BP‐I) or bipolar II (BP‐II) depression. Data for response/remission and all‐cause discontinuation were analyzed. Effect size was summarized by relative risk (RR) using a random effect model. Results Of 58 studies, five RCTs (N = 795 drug, N = 792 placebo) met inclusion criteria. Four armodafinil studies included only BP‐I patients and one modafinil study included both bipolar subtypes with limited heterogeneity (I2 = 34%, P = .19; I2 = 18%, P = .30). Compared to placebo, augmentation with MoArm was associated with significantly greater rates of treatment response (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.01‐1.37; P = .03) and remission (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10‐1.73; P = .005). All‐cause discontinuation was not different than placebo (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.89‐1.30; P = .45) with no evidence of increased risk of mood switch or suicide attempts with MoArm (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.39‐2.5; P = .98; RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.37‐2.85; P = .97). Conclusion This narrower scope meta‐analysis of one drug for one disease suggests that adjunctive MoArm may represent a novel therapeutic intervention. Further studies delineating the subtypes of bipolar depression responsive to these novel dopaminergic‐enhancing agents are encouraged.

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“…Perceived in popular media as a ‘cure in search of a disease’ for many years, in 1939 The American Journal of Psychology published results of testing that indicated the beneficial use of Benzedrine in cases of psychological depression, lethargy and other central nervous system disorders 8. Edward Reifenstein and Eugene Davidoff's research detailed the effects of the drug in four capacities; stimulation of mental response, speech function, motor function and affectual function.…”

Section: A Cure In Search Of a Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Thrills, spills and pills: Bond, Benzedrine and the pharmacology of peace

Goodman

2010

Med Humanities

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This paper examines the conjunction of pharmacological science and espionage fiction of the post-war era. This paper argues that, during the 1950s, the relatively new science of pharmacology propounded the possibility that illness and human deficiency could be treated in a way that better reflected the post-war zeitgeist. The use of pharmacological medicine, perceived as cleaner and quicker than more 'bodily' forms of treatment, represented progress in contemporary medical science. It is argued that this philosophy extended to more overt means of pharmacological application, directly related to the geopolitical concerns of the 'Cold War'. A growing form of popular literature in this period was the espionage novel. This paper argues that the benefits proffered by pharmacology were incorporated into the fabric of espionage fiction, specifically the James Bond novels of Ian Fleming. Here, it is demonstrated how Fleming used pharmacological knowledge of Benzedrine throughout his novels. His works illustrate a belief that the augmentation of the spy's natural ability with pharmacological science would award decisive advantage in the Cold War conflict played out in spy fiction. However, the relationship between public use of Benzedrine and awareness of its side effects changed during the period of Fleming's publications, moving from a position of casual availability to one of controlled prescription. It is argued that the recognition of the dangers associated with the drug were over-ruled in favour of the benefits its use presented to the state. The continued use of the drug by Bond illustrates how the concerns of the nation are given priority over the health, and life, of the individual.

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The Psychological Effects of Benzedrine Sulfate

Cited by 17 publications

References 0 publications

Effects of amobarbital sodium and dexamphetamine sulfate on the conditioning of the eyeblink response.

Effects of amobarbital sodium and dexamphetamine sulfate on the conditioning of the eyeblink response.

Efficacy and tolerability of adjunctive modafinil/armodafinil in bipolar depression: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Thrills, spills and pills: Bond, Benzedrine and the pharmacology of peace

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