Nimodipine pharmacotherapeutic adjuvant therapy for inpatient treatment of cocaine dependence.
Recent preclinical studies suggest utility for voltage-sensitive calcium channel blockers (VSCCBs) in the treatment of cocaine addiction. The following double-blind placebo-controlled study examined the role of the VSCCB nimodipine in attenuating cocaine craving in 66 recently abstinent cocaine-dependent patients on an inpatient substance abuse treatment unit utilizing an intensive 12-step milieu-oriented psychosocial therapy. While the medication was well tolerated, the dose of nimodipine used in this study (90 mg q.d.) was not superior to placebo in reducing background or cue-induced cocaine craving over the 3 weeks of the study. There was the suggestion that nimodipine might attenuate the severity of some cocaine-induced brain deficits, as detected by evaluation of smooth pursuit eye movement function. A rationale for evaluating higher doses of nimodipine for the treatment of cocaine addiction is presented. As nimodipine might have anticraving and mood-stabilizing properties and cardio- and neuroprotective properties in the face of cocaine intoxication and might possibly even reverse some cocaine-induced brain deficits, further investigation of the role of nimodipine (and other VSCCBs) in cocaine addiction appears an attractive avenue of future medication development.
Rosse
R B
RB
VA/NIDA Substance Abuse Research Unit, Washington, D.C., USA.
Alim
T N
TN
Fay-McCarthy
M
M
Collins
J P
JP
Vocci
F J
FJ
Lindquist
T
T
Jentgen
C
C
Hess
A L
AL
Deutsch
S I
SI
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010919:Placebos
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D010919:Placebos; D009553:Nimodipine