title: Reboxetine for the treatment of patients with Cocaine Dependence Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although several approaches have been attempted for cocaine dependence, the pharmacological treatment of this serious disorder remains unclear. To date, desipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant of great noradrenergic activity, has shown the best results. Reboxetine, a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, might be an effective therapeutic option for this severe drug addiction. The aim was preliminarily to assess reboxetine in a group of cocaine dependent patients, selected from The Madrid City Council Drug Addiction Program primary care centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty six patients with a diagnosis of cocaine dependence disorder (DSM-IV 304.20) were selected to receive open treatment with reboxetine, 8 mg/day, for 12 weeks. Follow up assessments comprised cocaine consumption, treatment retention rate and change in standard structured psychometric instrument scores: cocaine selective severity assessment, Hamilton anxiety scale, Hamilton depression scale and clinical global impression, throughout the treatment period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were obtained from 20 patients; 10 of them remained abstinent, whereas the other 10 consumed cocaine at some time during the study. The treatment retention rate at week 12 was 61.5%. The psychometric instrument mean scores showed marked decreases throughout the treatment period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reboxetine might be an effective and safe therapeutic option for cocaine dependence disorder. The aversive effects, as well as the high blockage reported by some patients consuming cocaine during the trial, might be related to treatment. If confirmed in large clinical trials, the trends suggested by this study would confirm the role of noradrenergic function in the treatment of cocaine dependence.
authors.affiliation: Moratalaz Mental Health Department, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Szerman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peris
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mesías
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prieto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009025:Morpholines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D000077593:Reboxetine; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009025:Morpholines; D000077593:Reboxetine