To test the hypothesis that any change in urinary noradrenergic
excretion accompanies drug-induced improvement in attention deficit
disorder with hyperactivity, the authors gave pemoline (mean dose, 2.9
mg/kg of body weight) to 11 boys with this disorder in a 4-week open trial.
Pemoline administration improved behavior but did not significantly change
urinary catecholamine excretion. Serotonin excretion was unchanged, but
phenylethylamine (PEA) and 5- hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were
significantly decreased. Clinical responders and nonresponders did not
differ with respect to baseline urinary monoamine excretion or change in
PEA and 5-HIAA excretion.
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