Do Chronic Therapeutic Doses of Amphetamine Induce Sensitization to Adverse Effects?
The issue of sensitization’ to adverse effects following repeated low to moderate doses of stimulants is a critical issue in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) in children as well as adolescents and adults. Is there sensitization to drug reinforcement or potential for psychosis? The suggested dose range for methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine dosing in most children is 0.3 2.0 mg/kg daily and slightly lower doses for adolescents and adults. The dose for dextroamphetamine is cited as being approximately half that for methylphenidate (226). Even without considering the rodent to man correction, 0.251.0 mg/kg/day is clearly within the dose range quoted in most paradigms of locomotion sensitization in experimental animals. Studies in adolescents generally indicate that the stimulants are efficacious and safe in the treatment of ADHD (226). There are no reported differences in the incidence of substance abuse in medicated vs. unmedicated adolescents (90); th
