title: Psychostimulants in supportive care.
abstract: Psychostimulant medications have been used clinically and investigated in psychiatric populations, the medically ill, cancer patients and healthy people. This article discusses the pharmacology of dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate, pemoline (and other psychostimulants such as caffeine and ephedrine), their use in general medicine and cancer care, side effects, and abuse potential. Therapeutic use in children is addressed only insofar as it illustrates facets of their use in adults.
authors.affiliation: A World Health Organization Demonstration Project, The Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Homsi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D010389:Pemoline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; D002110:Caffeine; D010389:Pemoline; D004809:Ephedrine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine