THE EFFECT OF BENZEDRINE SULFATE ON THE EMPTYING TIME OF THE HUMAN STOMACH

¹ From the Department of Physiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia

The normal gastric emptying time was determined in three healthy young adults. It was found that under carefully controlled conditions benzedrine sulfate in doses of 30 grains (2 grams) delayed the gastric emptying time in the three individuals an average of 28.24 per cent. The results all lay in the same direction and there were no exceptions. The greatest delay observed in the gastric emptying time was 34.8 per cent; in none of the three cases was it less than 20.2 per cent. It had much less effect (approximately one-third) on gastric motility than did ephedrine.

The data set forth in this paper may be interpreted as a confirmation of the work of Myerson and Ritvo that benzedrine sulfate is capable of relaxing gastric musculature. These data also show, however, that their statement that the gastric emptying time is actually decreased is untenable.

Finally it is suggested that while benzedrine sulfate does not affect gastric motility as much as does ephedrine, nevertheless, if used over a prolonged period, the physician should not overlook the fact that it might well be capable of producing a certain amount of gastro-intestinal stasis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. H. BEYER and W. J. MEEK EFFECT OF BENZEDRINE SULFATE ON GASTRIC EMPTYING AND INTESTINAL ACTIVITY Arch Intern Med, April 1, 1939; 63(4): 752 - 759. [Abstract] [PDF]