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Pemoline Side Effects

The most commonly reported side effects of pemoline include toxicity to various agents, drug abuse, and overdose, based on 149 FDA adverse event reports from 2004 to 2025. 5.4% of reports found the drug to be ineffective.

Pemoline side effects

Percentages show how often each reaction appears relative to total reports for pemoline.

1
Toxicity To Various Agents8.7%13
2
Drug Abuse8.7%13
3
Drug Ineffective5.4%8
4
Overdose4.7%7
5
Fatigue4.0%6
6
Headache4.0%6
7
Agitation4.0%6
8
Depression4.0%6
9
Psychotic Disorder4.0%6
10
Fall3.4%5
11
Multiple Sclerosis Relapse3.4%5
12
Condition Aggravated3.4%5
13
Tremor3.4%5
14
Suicide Attempt3.4%5
15
Depression3.4%5

These are voluntary reports and do not establish that pemoline caused these reactions.

Report severity

79.2%Serious118 reports
35.6%Hospitalizations53 reports
16.8%Fatal25 reports

Seriousness is determined by the reporter, not by OpenClaim.

Pemoline drug interactions

Other drugs that appear in adverse event reports alongside pemoline. Drugs flagged as a suspected cause appear in the first column. Drugs taken at the same time but not suspected appear in the second.

Also suspected

1
Interferon17.4%26
2
Methylphenidate14.1%21
3
Chlorpromazine14.1%21
4
Olanzapine10.7%16
5
Alprazolam10.7%16
6
Escitalopram-oxalate9.4%14
7
Pseudoephedrine9.4%14
8
Nortriptyline-hydrochloride8.1%12
9
Codeine8.1%12
10
Quetiapine-fumarate6.7%10
11
Triazolam6.7%10
12
Chlorpheniramine6.7%10
13
Modafinil6.0%9
14
Clonazepam6.0%9
15
Risperidone5.4%8

Taken alongside

1
Acetaminophen12.1%18
2
Clonazepam8.7%13
3
Fluoxetine-hydrochloride8.7%13
4
Lorazepam8.1%12
5
Bupropion8.1%12
6
Levothyroxine-sodium7.4%11
7
Escitalopram-oxalate7.4%11
8
Methylphenidate7.4%11
9
Baclofen6.7%10
10
Dextroamphetamine6.7%10
11
Ibuprofen6.0%9
12
Aspirin6.0%9
13
Hydrocodone5.4%8
14
Gabapentin5.4%8
15
Sertraline-hydrochloride5.4%8

Co-occurrence in adverse event reports does not establish a drug interaction. Patients often take multiple medications, and these lists reflect prescribing patterns rather than causal relationships. Consult a healthcare provider about potential drug interactions.

Who reports pemoline side effects

61.1% of pemoline adverse event reports involve female patients and 32.9% involve male patients. The largest age group is adult at 83%. These figures reflect who reports side effects, not underlying risk.

Sex

Female61.1%
Male32.9%
Unknown6.0%

Age group

< 20.0%
2–113.7%
12–175.5%
18–6483.5%
65+7.3%

What is pemoline used for

Conditions and purposes for which patients were taking pemoline when the adverse event was reported.

AmnesiaAttention Deficit/hyperactivity DisorderAutismCancer PainDepressionDepressive SymptomDrug Use For Unknown IndicationDyslexiaEnergy IncreasedFatigueMultiple SclerosisNarcolepsyProduct Used For Unknown IndicationProduct Used For Unknown IndicationSomnolence

Pemoline brand names and reporting trend

Pemoline is sold under the brand name Pemoline.

Brand names

Pemoline67

Quarterly reports (20042025)

2005201020152025

An upward trend reflects increased FAERS reporting overall, not necessarily increased risk.

Taking pemoline with another medication?

Ask OpenClaim about your specific drug combination. Get a sourced report using FDA data, drug labels, and medical literature.