title: Amphetamine trials and tribulations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laboratory experiments conducted since the 1940s show that amphetamine combined with task-relevant experience improves postbrain injury behavioral outcomes. Several small clinical trials evaluated the approach as a means of improving poststroke recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In laboratory studies, the effect of amphetamine on recovery depends on the location and extent of brain injury, the dosing and timing of amphetamine, and the type, intensity, and timing of concomitant behavioral training. The small clinical trials conducted to date vary considerably in critical aspects of their designs and are largely negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The question of whether d-amphetamine combined with physiotherapy is of any clinical value remains unanswered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Neurology), Duke Stroke Center, Center for Clinical Health Policy Research, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. golds004@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: Larry B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000661:Amphetamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D051381:Rats; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D000661:Amphetamine