Treatment of Khat Addiction with Bromocriptine Mesylate: A Case Report and Review of Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Like Effects.
A patient addicted to khat was successfully treated as an outpatient. He was detoxified with bromocriptine mesylate 1.25 mg. q 6 h which was titrated downward over 4 weeks. Khat is a bush historically indigenous to the Mideast. It has high addictive potential due to its constituent, "cathinone." Cathinone, (1(5) + (minus sign) aminopropiophenon), is a sympathomimetic, similar but not identical to cocaine and amphetamine in activity and addiction potential. Bromocriptine has been extensively reported to successfully detoxify cocaine addiction and could be useful in khat addiction.
Giannini
A. James
AJ
Ohio State University, OH, USA and Chemical Abuse Centers Inc., OH, USA.
Nakoneczie
Ann M.
AM