Pemoline Brand Name– Cylert
What is Pemoline
Pemoline is an oral central nervous system stimulant that is no longer available in the US because of liver toxicity.
This agent possesses pharmacologic actions that are similar to those of the amphetamines and methylphenidate; however, its sympathomimetic effects are minimal. Because of its long half-life, pemoline can be dosed once a day.
Pemoline was indicated for use in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however, because of its association with life threatening hepatic failure, it should be not be considered as first line therapy for ADHD.
Pemoline has been used off-label to fight fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients, as an alternative treatment for narcolepsy, and to fight fatigue associated with sustained military operations.
Pemoline was originally approved by the FDA in January 1975.
Indications
- attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- fatigue
- narcolepsy
NOTE: This drug is discontinued in the US.
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- akathisia
- anorexia
- aplastic anemia
- depression
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- dyskinesia
- dystonic reaction
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- growth inhibition
- hallucinations
- headache
- hepatic failure
- hepatitis
- hepatotoxicity
- insomnia
- irritability
- jaundice
- malaise
- nausea
- nystagmus
- seizures
- supranormalization
- Tourette’s syndrome
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- weight loss
Monitoring Parameters
- growth rate
- LFTs
- weight
Contraindications
- alcoholism
- breast-feeding
- children
- depression
- geriatric
- growth inhibition
- hepatic disease
- hepatitis
- hepatotoxicity
- jaundice
- pregnancy
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- seizure disorder
- substance abuse
- suicidal ideation
- tics
- Tourette’s syndrome
Interactions
- Acarbose
- Acebutolol
- Acetaminophen; Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Magnesium Salicylate; Phenyltoloxamine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Phenyltoloxamine; Salicylamide
- Albiglutide
- Albuterol
- Albuterol; Ipratropium
- Alogliptin; Pioglitazone
- Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors
- Amantadine
- Anticonvulsants
- Armodafinil
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Orphenadrine
- Atenolol
- Atenolol; Chlorthalidone
- Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
- Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
- Bendroflumethiazide; Nadolol
- Beta-blockers
- Betaxolol
- Bethanechol
- Bisoprolol
- Bisoprolol; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Bosentan
- Bretylium
- Brimonidine; Timolol
- Bupropion
- Bupropion; Naltrexone
- Caffeine
- Caffeine; Ergotamine
- Canagliflozin
- Canagliflozin; Metformin
- Carbamazepine
- Cardiac glycosides
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Clonazepam
- Cocaine
- Colchicine
- Colchicine; Probenecid
- Dapagliflozin
- Dapagliflozin; Metformin
- Dapagliflozin; Saxagliptin
- Diazepam
- Digitoxin
- Digoxin
- Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors
- Dorzolamide; Timolol
- Dronabinol
- Dulaglutide
- Dyphylline
- Dyphylline; Guaifenesin
- Empagliflozin
- Empagliflozin; Linagliptin
- Empagliflozin; Linagliptin; Metformin
- Empagliflozin; Metformin
- Epoprostenol
- Ertugliflozin
- Ertugliflozin; Metformin
- Ertugliflozin; Sitagliptin
- Esmolol
- Ethotoin
- Exenatide
- Felbamate
- Fluticasone; Umeclidinium; Vilanterol
- Fluticasone; Vilanterol
- Fosphenytoin
- Gabapentin
- Glimepiride; Pioglitazone
- Glimepiride; Rosiglitazone
- Green Tea
- Guanabenz
- Haloperidol
- Hydantoins
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Metoprolol
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Propranolol
- Iloprost
- Incretin Mimetics
- Indacaterol
- Indacaterol; Glycopyrrolate
- Insulin Degludec; Liraglutide
- Insulin Glargine; Lixisenatide
- Insulins
- Iobenguane I 131
- Iohexol
- Iopamidol
- Iopromide
- Ioversol
- Isocarboxazid
- Isosulfan Blue
- Labetalol
- Lacosamide
- Lamotrigine
- Levalbuterol
- Levetiracetam
- Levobetaxolol
- Levobunolol
- Levothyroxine
- Levothyroxine; Liothyronine (Porcine)
- Levothyroxine; Liothyronine (Synthetic)
- Liothyronine
- Liraglutide
- Lithium
- Lixisenatide
- Lorazepam
- Loxapine
- Macitentan
- Maprotiline
- Mecamylamine
- Meglitinides
- Mephobarbital
- Metformin; Pioglitazone
- Metformin; Rosiglitazone
- Metoprolol
- Miglitol
- Modafinil
- Molindone
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Nabilone
- Nadolol
- Nebivolol
- Nebivolol; Valsartan
- Nitrates
- Non-Ionic Contrast Media
- Oxcarbazepine
- Penbutolol
- Phenelzine
- Phenobarbital
- Phenothiazines
- Phentermine; Topiramate
- Phenytoin
- Pimozide
- Pindolol
- Pioglitazone
- Pramlintide
- Primidone
- Procarbazine
- Propranolol
- Rasagiline
- Riociguat
- Rosiglitazone
- Selegiline
- Selexipag
- Semaglutide
- SGLT2 Inhibitors
- Sodium Oxybate
- Sotalol
- St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum
- Sulfonylureas
- Theophylline, Aminophylline
- Thiazolidinediones
- Thiothixene
- Thyroid hormones
- Tiagabine
- Timolol
- Topiramate
- Tranylcypromine
- Treprostinil
- Umeclidinium; Vilanterol
- Valproic Acid, Divalproex Sodium
- Vasodilators
- Vigabatrin
- Zonisamide