d-Amphetamine raises cortisol levels in schizophrenic patients with and without chronic naltrexone pretreatment.

Five drug-free schizophrenic patients received an infusion of 20 mg d-amphetamine and placebo on separate days in a pilot study. Plasma cortisol levels rose significantly at 1 and 2 hours after d-amphetamine compared to following placebo. A repeat infusion of d-amphetamine during naltrexone treatment led to a similar increase in cortisol concentrations.