Bromocriptine in cocaine withdrawal--does it work?
Heavy cocaine use has been reported to lead to dopamine depletion in the brain, which in turn may be responsible for strong cocaine craving after withdrawal. Bromocriptine, a dopaminergic agonist, was used on that basis to prevent relapses in the withdrawal period. In an uncontrolled trial of 25 heavy cocaine users, measurements of pre- and post-bromocriptine serum prolactin levels-as indicators of inhibitory dopaminergic control-did not suggest dopamine depletion. Moreover, in 13 of these 25 patients, an assessment scale for craving and for other subjective discomforts indicated some improvement in only a slight majority, which is probably inseparable from placebo effect.
Teller
D W
DW
Clinical Institute, Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Devenyi
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D001971:Bromocriptine; D011388:Prolactin; D003042:Cocaine