Urinary phenethylamine response to d-amphetamine in 12 boys with attention deficit disorder.

Urinary phenethylamine (PEA), an endogenous amine similar to amphetamine in both molecular structure and pharmacological properties, was studied in 12 boys with attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity. d-Amphetamine and placebo were given for 14 days each in a counterbalanced crossover design; double-blind teacher behavior ratings and motor activity measurements were also obtained. Excretion of PEA, phenylacetic acid, creatinine, and d-amphetamine were measured. PEA was significantly increased and phenylacetic acid was unchanged after d-amphetamine administration, and change in PEA excretion correlated significantly with d-amphetamine excretion. There was no significant relationship between either clinical response to drug and change in PEA or phenylacetic acid excretion.