Effects of pemoline on hyperactive boys

Thirty boys rated as hyperactive by their teachers and parents received penoline or placebo in a double blind design. A variety of measures were taken during the nine week blind period. Behavior ratings were made on the Conners scale at 4 time intervals showing that a significant improvement in the drug group was observed by the teachers, but no significant change occurred in the ratings by the parents and physician. No toxic or grossly abnormal results were obtained from pediatric examinations which included blood, urine and stool samples as well as height, weight and cardiovascular data. Psychological tests, including the WISC, yielded no significant findings over the 9 weeks although initial differences existed between the drug and placebo groups. These measures were also administered during the 18 month long-term phase for 14 of the children which led to the conclusion that penoline is an effective agent for improving the general behavior and school performance of some of the hyperactive boys.