Bromocriptine and cocaine cue reactivity in cocaine-dependent patients.
Based on previous reports that bromocriptine, a postsynaptic dopamine agonist, reduced cocaine craving and prevented relapse in cocaine-dependent subjects, effects of the drug were evaluated in 20 cocaine-dependent males in an inpatient drug rehabilitation programme. The subjective and physiologic effects of exposure to both cocaine-associated and neutral stimuli, presented using videotapes, were measured at one-week intervals. Between laboratory sessions subjects received either bromocriptine (1.25 mg bid) or a matched placebo, administered in double-blind fashion. Compared with the neutral videotape, the cocaine videotape elicited both a greater desire to use cocaine and more symptoms associated with cocaine self-administration. These results support an appetitive conditioning model of cocaine effects. Bromocriptine, however, had no effect on the cocaine-cue-associated reactivity, which declined over the 1-week interval in both treatment groups. Methodological differences among studies that have examined the effects of bromocriptine in cocaine-dependent subjects may explain the variable findings observed.
Kranzler
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Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington 06030.
Bauer
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003042:Cocaine; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014743:Videotape Recording
D001971:Bromocriptine; D003042:Cocaine