Methamphetamine Hydrochloride and Pyrantel Pamoate

• Generic Name: methamphetamine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Desoxyn, Desoxyn Gradumet

Used as an adjunct to psychological, educational, social, and other remedial measures in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (hyperkinetic disorder, hyperkinetic syndrome of childhood, minimal brain dysfunction).

Almost all studies comparing behavioral therapy versus stimulants alone have shown a much stronger therapeutic effect from stimulants than from behavioral therapy, and stimulants (e.g., amphetamines, methylphenidate) remain the drugs of choice for the management of ADHD.

Drug therapy is not indicated in all patients with ADHD, and such therapy should be considered only after a complete evaluation, including medical history, has been performed.

Use should depend on age and the clinician’s assessment of the severity and duration of symptoms and should not depend solely on one or more behavioral characteristics.

Not recommended for ADHD symptoms associated with acute stress reactions.

Has been used as an adjunct to caloric restriction in the short-term (i.e., a few weeks) treatment of exogenous obesity. However, because of limited efficacy (short-lived), such use no longer is recommended.

The anorexigenic effect appears to be temporary, seldom lasting more than a few weeks, and tolerance may occur.

Obesity usually is a chronic disease, and short-term or intermittent therapy with anorexigenic drugs is unlikely to maintain long-term benefit.

Misuse and abuse have experienced a resurgence, in large part, due to the relative ease with which methamphetamine can be synthesized clandestinely from readily available chemicals such as ephedrine, phenylpropanolamine (no longer commercially available in the US), or pseudoephedrine. Recent restrictions (including enactment of the Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996, the Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act [MAPA] of 2000, and the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act [CMEA] of 2005) on the availability of these compounds are hoped to reverse this resurgence in misuse and abuse.

• Generic Name: pyrantel
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Antiminth, Ascarel, Pin-X, Pinworm Caplets, Pinworm Medicine, Pin-Away

Treatment of enterobiasis caused by Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm infection). May be used for self-medication. Drugs of choice for enterobiasis are pyrantel, mebendazole, or albendazole.

Has been used for treatment of ascariasis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides. Drugs of choice for ascariasis are albendazole, ivermectin, or mebendazole.

Treatment of intestinal hookworm infections caused by Ancylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus. Drugs of choice for intestinal hookworm infections are albendazole, mebendazole, or pyrantel.

Treatment of eosinophilic enterocolitis caused by Ancylostoma caninum (dog hookworm). Drugs of choice are albendazole, mebendazole, or pyrantel. When indicated, endoscopic worm extraction also is considered a treatment of choice for eosinophilic enterocolitis.

Treatment of trichostrongyliasis caused by Trichostrongylus. Pyrantel is the drug of choice; albendazole and mebendazole are alternatives.

May be effective for treatment of oesophagostomiasis caused by Oesophagostomum bifurcum. Albendazole is an alternative.

Treatment of infections caused by Moniliformis moniliformis (thorny-headed worm).