Effect of Varient Dosages of Amphetamine upon Endurance

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information concerning the acute effects of a small, moderate, and large dose of d-amphetamine sulfate upon muscular endurance; a secondary purpose involved the effect upon submaximal and maximal heart rate (max HR). Twelve male university students underwent four separate trials of a progressive work task on an electric bicycle ergometer. The criterion for muscular endurance was time to exhaustion. Before each trial the subject consumed either placebo (0 mg.), small (5 mg.), moderate (10 mg.), or large (15 mg.) dose of d-amphetamine sulfate per 70 kg. body weight. A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant F ratio (P < .05) for max HR. The Neuman Keuls analysis indicated all three amphetamine doses elicited a higher max HR than the placebo. It was concluded that variant dosages of d-amphetamine sulfate do not influence maximal endurance capacity or the heart rate during submaximal exercise and that the significant effect exerted upon max HR needs further exploration.