Utility of dextroamphetamine for attenuating the impact of sleep deprivation in pilots.

INTRODUCTION: Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) is an effective fatigue countermeasure for use in military subject pilots who are deprived of sleep. Anecdotal reports have indicated Dexedrine (Dex) is effective in "real world" sustained operations, and controlled laboratory tests have yielded positive results as well. The aim of this study was to substantiate the efficacy of Dex for sustaining the alertness and performance of pilots during periods of sleep deprivation by showing the robust effects of the medication and its consistent effects across several research efforts.
METHODS: In the present report, selected data from several controlled aviation studies were reviewed and combined to corroborate the efficacy of Dex as a fatigue countermeasure.
RESULTS: The results showed Dex to be effective for maintaining flight skills, psychological mood, and physiological activation (measured via electroencephalograph data) in sleep-deprived pilots. The positive benefits of the medication were not offset by marked disruptions in recovery sleep, although some negative effects were observed (sleep was lighter for several hours following drug administration).
CONCLUSIONS: Dex is a viable remedy for fatigue in aviation sustained operations. However, Dex is not a substitute for proper crew-rest scheduling because there is no replacement for adequate restful sleep.