Amphetamine fails to facilitate motor performance and to enhance motor recovery among stroke patients with mild arm paresis: interim analysis and termination of a double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Purpose: To assess the effects of d-amphetamine on motor facilitation and recovery in stroke patients with mild arm paresis receiving the Arm Ability training.

Methods: Thirty-one stroke patients with mild arm paresis were randomly assigned to either (a.) receiving placebo or (b.) d-amphetamine twice a week 2 hours before Arm Ability training sessions for three weeks.

Main Outcome Measure: time needed to perform TEMPA tasks, a measure of upper extremity performance reflecting everyday life tasks. Secondary measures: aimed movements, tapping, and a 10 m walkway as well as motor performance during training sessions.

Results: The interim efficacy analysis of 26 stroke patients who completed the study intervention showed overall arm motor recovery both from pre to post test after 3 weeks of training and from pre test to follow-up 1 year later. No superior effect of d-amphetamine over placebo could be substantiated for either motor facilitation during training or motor recovery (post training or long-term). D-amphetamine exerted mild effects on blood pressure. Serious adverse events were not observed.

Conclusions: d-Amphetamine failed to facilitate motor performance during training sessions, to promote skill acquisition with training tasks, and most importantly to enhance motor recovery among patients with mild arm paresis after stroke.