Amphetamineis generally used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Historically, amphetamine has also been used as a treatment for depression, obesity, and nasal congestion. In studies of amphetamine exposure in nonhuman primates, some report no discernible adverse effects on behavior or dopamine system development, while others noted reductions to dopamine-associated structures and metabolites. In stark contrast, literature reviews of human studies, including a meta-analysis and a systematic review, of magnetic resonance imaging indicate that long-term treatment of ADHD with amphetamine may decrease the abnormalities in brain structure and function in subjects with ADHD, such as an improvement in function of the right caudate nucleus. In humans, reviews of clinical stimulant research have established the safety and effectiveness of long-term amphetamine use for ADHD.
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