(-)-Isomer of amphetamine

ECDD Technical summary
The pharmacological profile of the (—)-isomer of amphetamine, for which the International Nonproprietary Name is levamfetamine, is very similar to that of the (+-)-isomer, but it is about one-quarter to one-third as potent. No toxicological or pharmacokinetic data are available for this isomer. (—)-Amphetamine is readily self-administered under experimental conditions by rhesus monkeys, rats, and dogs and differs only from (+)-amphetamine by being less potent. No information is available concerning its clinical abuse liability, on the nature of the public health or social problems associated with its use or abuse, or on the epidemiology of its use and abuse. The drug is controlled in a number of countries. It is available for medical use in the United Kingdom. No data are available concerning its production. There have been some reports of illicit trafficking in the drug. On the basis of the data outlined above. it was the consensus of the Expert Committee that (—)-amphetamine met the criteria in article 2, paragraph 4, for control under the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Owing to its pharmacological similarity to (+)-amphetamine the Expert Committee recommended that it be placed in Schedule II of the Convention.