Asians compared to Whites show increased response to d-amphetamine on select subjective and cardiovascular measures

Abstract

Objective Identifying factors that moderate subjective response to stimulants is important for understanding individuals at risk for abusing these drugs. Some research suggests that Asians may respond differently to stimulants than other races, but controlled human laboratory research of stimulant administration effects in Asians is scant Methods In this double-blind counterbalanced within-subject study, healthy stimulant-naïve participants (N = 65; 55% Asian; 63% female; age 18–35) received a single dose of 20-mg oral d-amphetamine or placebo on separate days. At each testing day, subjective measures of abuse liability and cardiovascular assessments were administered at repeated intervals before and after drug administration over a 4-hour period. Results Asians (vs. Whites) demonstrated greater d-amphetamine-induced increases in diastolic blood pressure and ratings of ‘Feel High’ and ‘Like Drug’. Conclusions Asian and White healthy young adults may differ in certain subjective and cardiovascular responses to acute doses of d-amphetamine. Such individual differences could help explain between-person differences in abuse potential of d-amphetamine and other stimulants.

Rewarding effects of physical activity predict sensitivity to the acute subjective effects of d-amphetamine in healthy volunteers

“…The study used a within-subjects design, in which participants attended a baseline session, followed by two four-hour experimental sessions at which a 20 mg dose of oral d -amphetamine or placebo was administered under double-blind conditions (session order was counterbalanced). The present findings are a secondary analysis of a larger study examining individual difference factors that predict response to the acute effects of d -amphetamine (Kirkpatrick et al, 2016; Leventhal et al, 2017; Pang et al, 2016).…”

“…The 20 mg d-amphetamine dose was selected based on previous studies indicating differences in acute d-amphetamine response as a function of trait personality measures (Kirkpatrick et al, 2013;White et al, 2006). This dose produces reliable subjective effects in naïve participants (see time course graphs in Leventhal et al, 2017 andPang et al, 2016), without increasing adverse effects associated with larger doses.…”

Pharmacotherapy for Comorbid Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Stimulant Dependence: A Systematic Review

“…For instance, majority of the study participants were Caucasians, with a smaller number of African-Americans or Hispanics. There is evidence that Asians may be more susceptible to the cardiovascular and euphoric effects of damphetamines, 43 and this could have been missed in the studies reviewed. Thus, research in this field involving more diverse sample will be desirable.…”