No evidence exists at present to support the use of amphetamine after stroke .
INTRODUCTION The use of drugs to enhance recovery ( " rehabilitation pharmacology " ) has been assessed .
Amphetamine can improve outcome in experimental models of stroke , and several small clinical trials have assessed its use in stroke .
No benefit from D-amphetamine when added to physiotherapy after stroke: a randomized, placebo-controlled study
Objective : To assess the effect of D-amphetamine on the recovery of activities of daily living and motor functions after stroke , Design : R and omized , placebo-controlled study , Setting : Inpatient rehabilitation centre , Subjects : Twenty-four stroke survivors after a first ischaemic supratentorial stroke within six weeks before study onset , severely to moderately affected , with a Barthel Index ( 0–100 ) ranging from 25 to 50 , no severe concomitant internal , neurological or psychiatric diseases , and participating in a comprehensive rehabilitation programme of 10–12 weeks , Interventions : Ten sessions with 10 mg D-amphetamine ( or placebo ) every fourth day totalling 100 mg in a time period of 36 days combined with physical therapy according to the neurodevelopmental concept within 60 minutes after drug intake . Main outcome measures : Barthel Index ( 0–100 ) served as the primary outcome measure and the Rivermead Motor Assessment Score with its three sections ( gross function , leg and trunk , and arm ) as the secondary outcome measure , assessed at days 0 , 20 , 36 , 90 , 180 and 360 . Results : The two groups did not differ with respect to clinical data and outcome measures at study onset . All patients improved significantly except for arm function over the intervention period and up to day 90 after study onset . The comparison between groups did not reveal any difference at any time ; amphetamine-treated patients did not show any increase in motor function or ADL compared with the control group . Conclusions : The placebo-controlled study failed to show any effect of D-amphetamine on stroke recovery compared with control . The small number of patients , the timing and content of physical therapy were limiting factors of the present study . Further trials are warranted
No evidence exists at present to support the use of amphetamine after stroke .
INTRODUCTION The use of drugs to enhance recovery ( " rehabilitation pharmacology " ) has been assessed .
Amphetamine can improve outcome in experimental models of stroke , and several small clinical trials have assessed its use in stroke .