Skip to main content
Log in

EEG profiles of fenfluramine, amobarbital and dextroamphetamine in normal volunteers

  • Published:
Psychopharmacologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A quantitative EEG study in volunteer adults was undertaken to distinguish single oral administrations of 50 and 100 mg amobarbital, 10 mg dextroamphetamine, 40 mg fenfluramine and placebo. Four hour EEG recordings were monitored by frequent auditory reaction time tasks. The EEG changes were measured by digital computer period analysis.

In the analysis, each drug was distinguished from placebo, and from each other, with the best discriminations for 50 mg amobarbital and dextroamphetamine, and the poorest discrimination of fenfluramine from 50 mg amobarbital.

These observations are consistent with the clinical pharmacology of the compounds and suggest further applications of quantitative EEG for the classification of psychoactive drugs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alphin, R. S., Funderburk, W. H., Ward, J. W.: Anorexigenic activity of n-Ethyl-α-Methyl-3-Trifluoromethylphenethylamine-HCl (AHR-965), a non-CNS stimulant. Toxicol. appl. Pharmacol. 6, 340 (1964).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacon, G. E., Lowry, G. H.: A clinical trial of fenfluramine in obese children. Curr. ther. Res. 9, 626–630 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brodbin, P., O'Connor, C. A.: A double-blind clinical trial of an appetite depressant, fenfluramine, in general practice. Practitioner 198, 707–710 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Colmore, J. P., Moore, J. D.: Fenfluramine, an amphetamine-like appetite suppressant with paradoxical central nervous system and cardiovascular effects. J. New Drugs 6, 123 (1966) (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, B. W.: A collaborative investigation of fenfluramine: anorexigenic with sedative properties. Curr. ther. Res. 12, 502–515 (1970).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fink, M.: EEG and human psychopharmacology. (Abstracts of Proceedings of Symposium at Third World Congress of Psychiatry, Montreal, 1961). Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 15, 133–137 (1963).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —: EEG and human psychopharmacology. Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. 9, 241–258 (1969a).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • —: The human electroencephalogram: Index of clinical activity of new psychoactive agents. Mod. Probl. Pharmacopsychiat. 2, 106–110 (1969b).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Itil, T.: EEG analyses by digital computer: Relation of Pentothal induced changes to resting pattern. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol. 18, 520–521 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  • —, Itil, T. M., Zaks, A., Freedman, A. M.: EEG patterns of cyclazocine, a narcotic antagonist. In: Neurophysiological and behavioral aspects of psychotropic drugs, pp. 62–71. A. G. Karczmar and W. P. Koella (Eds.). Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C. Thomas 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • — —, Hickman, C., Itil, T.: Quantitative analysis of the electroencephalogram by digital computer methods. III: Applications to psychopharmacology. In: Computers and electronic devices in psychiatry, pp. 109–123. N. S. Kline and E. Laska (Eds.). New York: Grune & Stratton 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  • - Shapiro, D., Itil, T., Hickman, C.: Discrimination of amobarbital effects by quantitative electroencephalography. Psychiat. Res. Fdn. Mo. (St. Louis), 65/5 (1965).

  • Firth, H., Lewis, S. A., Ogunremi, O. O., Oswald, I.: The effect of acute administration of (meta-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1-(benzoyloxy)-ethylamino-2-propane (780SE) and fenfluramine on human sleep. Brit. J. Pharmacol. 39, 462–463 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Foxwell, M., Funderburk, W. H., Ward, J. W.: Comparative effects of fenfluramine and d-amphetamine on the CNS. Pharmacol. 9, 244 (1967) (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • — — —: Studies on the site of action of a new anoretic agent, fenfluramine. J. Pharmacol. exp. Ther. 165, 60–70 (1969).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gaind, R.: Fenfluramine (Ponderax) in the treatment of obese psychiatric outpatients. Brit. J. Psychiat. 115, 963–964 (1969).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, D.: Electroencephalographic manifestations associated with psychotic illness: Pentothal activation technique and pharmacologic interrelationships. Comprehens. Psychiat. 5, 80–92 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadler, A. J.: Fenfluramine, a new anorexigenic agent. J. clin. Pharm. 11, 52–55 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, R. C., Turner, P.: Fenfluramine and critical flicker frequency. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 19, 337–338 (1967).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Itil, T.: Elektroencephalographische Studien bei Psychosen und psychotropen Medikamenten. Monograph. Istanbul: Ahmet Sait Matbaasi 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Itil, T. M.: Fenfluramine, reaction time—an interim report. Filed Report, A. H. Robins, July 12, 1968.

  • Johnson, D. N., Funderburk, W. H., Ward, J. W.: Effects of fenfluramine on sleepwakefulness in cats. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) (in press).

  • Lawson, A. A., Strong, J. A., Roscoe, P., Gibson, A., Peattie, P.: Comparison of fenfluramine and metformin in treatment of obesity. Lancet 1970, 437–441.

  • Lewis, S. A.: Comparative effects of some amphetamine derivatives on human sleep. In: Amphetamines and related compounds, pp. 873–888. E. Costa and S. Garattini (Eds.). New York: Raven Press 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munro, J. F., Seaton, D. A., Duncan, L. J. P.: Treatment of refractory obesity with fenfluramine. Brit. med. J. 1966II, 624–625.

  • Oswald, I., Jones, H. S., Mannerheim, J. E.: Effects of two slimming drugs on sleep. Brit. med. J. 1968I, 796–799.

  • Raich, W. A., Rickels, K., Raab, E.: A double-blind evaluation of fenfluramine in anxious somatizing neurotic medical clinic patients. Curr. ther. Res. 8, 31–33 (1966).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shagass, C., Jones, A. L.: A neurophysiological test for psychiatric diagnosis: Results in 750 patients. Amer. J. Psychiat. 114, 1002–1010 (1958).

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, D. M., Fink, M.: Quantitative analysis of the electroencephalogram by digital computer methods. Psych. Res. Fdn. (St. Louis) 66/1 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Simeon, J., Spero, M., Fink, M.: Clinical and EEG studies of doxepin: interim report. Psychosomatics 10, 14–17 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Volavka, J. V., Joyce, C. R. B., Maloney, M. J., Brawn, W., Summerfield, J., Topham, C., Scott, D. F.: Effect of nitrazepam amylobarbitone sodium and placebo on the elctroencephalogram of normal subjects. Psychopharmacologia (Berl.) 14, 178–183 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziance, R., Kinnard, W. J.: Some effects of fenfluramine HCl on the central nervous system. Pharmacol. 9, 244 (1967) (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Aided, in part, by USPHS grants MH-11358, 13003 and 13358; the Psychiatric Research Foundation of Missouri, Smith Kline and French Laboratories and A. H. Robins, Inc.

This report summarizes data of a second quantitative EEG study undertaken in 1965–1966. Earlier progress reports dated April 1965 and May 1967 are available.

The cooperation of Connie Hickman, B.S.E.E. and the nursing and technical staff of the Missouri Institute of Psychiatry are gratefully acknowledged.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fink, M., Shapiro, D.M. & Itil, T.M. EEG profiles of fenfluramine, amobarbital and dextroamphetamine in normal volunteers. Psychopharmacologia 22, 369–383 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406875

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406875

Key-Words

Navigation