Effects of "binge" use of intravenous cocaine in methadone-maintained individuals.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effects of heavy cocaine use followed by abstinence.


METHODS
During self-administration sessions, which occurred in the afternoon and again in the evening, participants could after self-administer up to six doses of intravenous cocaine (32 mg/70 kg) at 14-minute intervals. All volunteers participated in a 2-day and a 3-day series of self-administration sessions (cocaine binges). No cocaine was available for at least 2 days following each cocaine binge.


METHODS
Five adult methadone-maintained cocaine abusers.


METHODS
Inpatient clinical research unit.


METHODS
Cardiovascular and subjective effects.


RESULTS
The first cocaine dose in a session produced substantial subjective and cardiovascular effects and, with the exception of blood pressure and ratings of "irritable", administering up to five more cocaine doses did not increase these effects. Additional cocaine doses, however, did increase ratings of "bad drugs effect" and decrease ratings of "I want cocaine". Maximal subjective and cardiovascular effects of cocaine did not vary across sessions on the same day or between days. Ratings of "depressed" and "miserable" were increased the first day after each period of cocaine use, and presentation of cocaine-related stimuli increased ratings of "I want cocaine" and "I want heroin" during cocaine abstinence.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute tolerance developed to many of the effects of cocaine during a cocaine binge in methadone-maintained individuals, next-day residual changes in mood were subtle, and no prolonged effects of a cocaine binge were observed.
Foltin
R W
RW
Division on Substance Abuse, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. rwf2@columbia.edu
Fischman
M W
MW
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003863:Depression / Q000139:chemically induced; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D003042:Cocaine; D008691:Methadone