AMPHETAMINE-LIKE EFFECT OF L-DEPRENYL (SELEGILINE) IN DRUG DISCRIMINATION STUDIES

l-Deprenyl has dose-dependent amphetamine- and methamphetamine-like discriminative stimulus properties in rats and monkeys. However, these actions occur only at doses that are well above the clinically relevant dose range for l-deprenyl and are likely to reflect its metabolic conversion to amphetamine products. In view of its weak potency for producing amphetamine-like effects and their slow onset, it may not be surprising that l-deprenyl does not appear to have amphetamine-like abuse potential and has been used therapeutically in the treatment of Parkinson syndrome for more than 20 years with no reported instances of abuse.