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Published on: May 3, 2017
Riluzole and D-amphetamine interactions in humans.
Mehmet Sofuoglu1, Andrew J Waters, Marc Mooney
1Yale University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Ave., Bldg. 36/116A4, West Haven, CT 06516, United States. Mehmet.Sofuoglu@yale.edu
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|August 24, 2007
Summary
Riluzole, used for ALS, did not block the effects of d-amphetamine in healthy volunteers. Instead, riluzole alone produced amphetamine-like effects and worsened attention test performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Preclinical studies suggest glutamate release inhibitors can block psychostimulant effects.
- Riluzole, a glutamate release inhibitor, is approved for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of riluzole on acute physiological and subjective responses to d-amphetamine in healthy human volunteers.
Main Methods:
- Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with 12 healthy volunteers.
- Four oral treatments: placebo, d-amphetamine, riluzole, or d-amphetamine plus riluzole.
- Measured heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol, SART performance, and subjective effects.
Main Results:
- d-amphetamine increased heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol, and induced stimulant effects, improving response speed but increasing errors on the SART.
- Riluzole (100 mg) did not block d-amphetamine's physiological or subjective effects.
- Riluzole alone produced stimulant-like subjective effects and increased errors of commission on the SART without improving reaction time.
Conclusions:
- Riluzole does not counteract acute d-amphetamine effects in humans.
- Riluzole itself may possess psychostimulant properties and impair attention.
- Further research is needed on glutamate medications' effects on psychostimulant responses.
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