Exploring the Theoretical Potential of Benzphetamine in the Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder...

Benzphetamine HCl (Didrex) is a Schedule III amphetamine indicated for the treatment of obesity. Amphetamine and methylphenidate are CNS stimulants regarded as the most effective treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Currently, both classes comprise the nationwide shortage of stimulants used to treat ADHD. Benzphetamine is a prodrug yielding dextroamphetamine (Zenzedi) and dextromethamphetamine (formerly Desoxyn). Both metabolites hold FDA approval to treat ADHD, suggesting their potential to aid in the shortage. Nonetheless, the lack of data on the compound limits its hypothetical applicability, thus prompting a theoretical review. Prior studies found dextroamphetamine to be more potent than benzphetamine and suggested the behavior of the compounds to differ; despite this, the absence of data in ADHD subjects and the limited data on obese subjects significantly limited our investigation. While benzphetamine appears mechanistically promising, the paucity of literature prevented us from drawing a theoretical claim. This editorial examined the theoretical pharmacological rationale for benzphetamine based on known mechanisms; it does not present new clinical data, efficacy claims, or treatment recommendations.