Cylert

Cylert, which is known generically as Pemoline, is used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by stimulating the central nervous system. It was approved by the FDA in 1975 and was sold by Abbott Laboratories. Cylert was taken off the market in 2005 and is no longer available in the United States because of some of the risks associated with the drug.

In 2005, the FDA announced that the risks associated with Cylert outweighed the benefits and removed the drug from the market. It has been discovered that Cylert has severe hepatic toxicity which increases the risk of liver failure. This drug was linked to 20 cases of liver failure in patients (most of whom were children) with 13 of those cases resulting in death or liver replacement.

Also, according to a report released in to 1990s, Cylert was also responsible for 200 other adverse drug reactions involving the liver. Most of these reactions occurred in patients who were under the age of 20.

Cylert and other drugs like it have been thought to cause motor and vocal tics, and Tourette’s syndrome, along with other serious side effects such as insomnia, depression, hallucinations, nausea, seizures, vocal outburst, bleeding gums and chest pains.

Serious Side Effects may include:

• An allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives)
• Liver damage (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unusual fatigue, loss of appetite, yellow skin or eyes, itching, clay-colored stools, or dark urine)
• Seizures
• Unusual behavior, confusion, or hallucinations
• Unusual movements of the tongue, lips, face, or arms and legs

Other Side Effects may include:

• Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
• Nervousness, headache, or drowsiness
• Mild depression
• Nausea, decreased appetite, or weight loss
• It is habit forming and may cause drug dependence. Do not stop taking it suddenly.