A rare case of dependence on pemoline.

This is the first case to report about a patient dependent on the dopaminergic CNS-stimulant pemoline. Throughout the treatment of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with pemoline mental (e.g. craving, loss of control) and physical symptoms (e.g. tolerance, withdrawal symptoms) appeared that fulfill the DSM-IV or ICD-10 criteria for dependence on psychostimulants. However, the dependence was regarded not to be induced by pemoline itself because the patient was prone to irregular and reinforced intake of amphetamines since her adolescence. Therefore, this case confirms the experience that in the treatment of ADHD the high risk to develop a dependence on psychostimulants is combined with a history of stimulant abuse.