Participants receiving dehydroepiandrosterone during treatment for cocaine dependence show high rates of cocaine use in a placebo-controlled pilot study.
Twenty-three cocaine-dependent participants were randomly assigned to receive either dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; n = 11; 100 mg/day) or placebo (n = 12) in the context of 12 weeks of thrice weekly cognitive-behavioral group counseling. Outcomes were retention, urine drug screening, cocaine craving, adverse experiences, and medication compliance. DHEA-treated participants averaged 45.8 (SD = 28.8) days in treatment, compared with 70.7 (SD = 20.6) days for placebo, r(21) = -2.4, p =.03, and provided 26.8% (SD = 29.3) of urine samples free of cocaine metabolite compared with 70.6% (SD = 39.9) for the placebo condition, r(21) = -3.0, p =.01. No differences were detected between conditions for cocaine craving or adverse experiences. High levels of medication compliance were documented. Results argue against using high doses of DHEA as a pharmacotherapy for cocaine dependence.
Shoptaw
Steve
S
Friends Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA. shoptaw@friendsresearch.org
Majewska
Maria Dorota
MD
Wilkins
Jeffery
J
Twitchell
Geoffrey
G
Yang
Xiaowei
X
Ling
Walter
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects
D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone