Article: Pemoline

Pemoline
Systematic (IUPAC) name
2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-4-one
Identifiers
CAS number	2152-34-3
ATC code	N06BA05
PubChem	159765
DrugBank	APRD00664
Chemical data
Formula	C9H8N2O2
Mol. weight	176.172 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	Hepatic
Half life	?
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	Schedule IV (United States) Lista II (Argentina)
Routes	Oral

Pemoline (sold as Cylert®) is a medication used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, it is a Schedule IV drug [1].

Pemoline has some advantages over other stimulants in that it doesn't reduce the appetite or cause dry mouth. However, in some patients Pemoline is suspected of causing liver damage, so regular liver tests are performed on those treated with it. Since receiving FDA approval in 1975, it has been linked with 21 cases of liver failure, of which 13 resulted in liver replacement or death. In 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew approval for Pemoline due to pressure from certain public advocacy groups, including Public Citizen. Patient support group the Narcolepsy Network tried to persuade the FDA not to ban it, on the grounds that some patients find all other treatments ineffective or to have dehabilitating side effects. The medication was used by an estimated 10,000 Americans afflicted with narcolepsy. A more potent analogue of pemoline, 4-methylaminorex has appeared on the black market as a drug of abuse similar to crystal methamphetamine.

In March 2005, Abbott Laboratories (Cylert® marketer) had discontinued the production of Cylert arguing economical reasons.