title: Methylphenidate (Ritalin) treatment of cocaine dependence--a preliminary report.
abstract: The authors report on three cases of cocaine dependence treated with methylphenidate. All patients treated showed marked to dramatic improvement with regard to toxic/abstinence signs and symptoms, craving behavior and other behavioral disturbances associated with heavy and chronic cocaine abuse. The authors explore the possibility that cocaine dependence is associated with pre-existing or resulting psychopathology, particularly mood disturbances. Emphasis is also placed on a predisposing or de novo attention deficit disorder (ADD) as possibly contributing to heavy or continued reliance on cocaine.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008774:Methylphenidate; D003042:Cocaine