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Adderall® produces increased striatal dopamine release and a prolonged time course compared to amphetamine isomers

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Abstract

Rationale

Adderall® is currently used for the treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and is composed of a novel mixture of approximately 24% l-amphetamine and 76% d-amphetamine salts. There are, however, no investigations of the pharmacological effects of this combination in vivo.

Objectives

The technique of high-speed chronoamperometry using Nafion®-coated single carbon-fiber microelectrodes was used to study amphetamine-evoked dopamine (DA) release produced by Adderall®, d-amphetamine, or d,l-amphetamine in the striatum of anesthetized male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The amphetamine solutions were locally applied from micropipettes by pressure ejection.

Results

Local applications of Adderall® resulted in significantly greater DA release signal amplitudes with prolonged time course of dopamine release and re-uptake as compared to d-amphetamine and d,l-amphetamine.

Conclusions

These data support the hypothesis that the combination of amphetamine enantiomers and salts in Adderall® has effects on DA release, which result in increased and prolonged DA release, compared to d- and d,l-amphetamine.

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Acknowledgments

USPHS grants DA14944, MH01245, DA017186, NSF DBI-9987807, and MH-70840. The authors would like to thank Theresa Currier Thomas, Sonia Fullwood, and Nichole Hines for their assistance with these experiments. These experiments comply with all laws within the United States of America.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Center for Sensor Technology, The Morris K. Udall Parkinson’s Disease Research Center of Excellence, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY, 40536-0098, USA

    B. Matthew Joyce, Paul E. A. Glaser & Greg A. Gerhardt

  2. Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY, 40536-0098, USA

    Greg A. Gerhardt

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY, 40536-0098, USA

    Paul E. A. Glaser & Greg A. Gerhardt

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington, KY, 40536-0098, USA

    Paul E. A. Glaser

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  1. B. Matthew Joyce
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  2. Paul E. A. Glaser
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  3. Greg A. Gerhardt
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Correspondence to Greg A. Gerhardt.

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Joyce, B.M., Glaser, P.E.A. & Gerhardt, G.A. Adderall® produces increased striatal dopamine release and a prolonged time course compared to amphetamine isomers. Psychopharmacology 191, 669–677 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0550-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-006-0550-9

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