title: Evaluation of the abuse potential of lorcaserin, a serotonin 2C (5-HT2C) receptor agonist, in recreational polydrug users.
abstract: Lorcaserin is a selective and potent serotonin 2C receptor subtype (5-HT(2C)) agonist under development for the treatment of obesity. This study assessed the drug's abuse potential on the basis of its pharmacological profile. For this purpose, a double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, randomized seven-way crossover study with single oral doses of lorcaserin (20, 40, and 60 mg), zolpidem (15 and 30 mg), ketamine (100 mg), and placebo was conducted in recreational polydrug users (N = 35). Subjective and objective measures were assessed up to 24 h after the dose. We found that zolpidem and ketamine had significantly higher peak scores relative to placebo on the primary measures as well as on most of the secondary measures. The subjective effects of a 20-mg dose of lorcaserin were similar to those of placebo, whereas supratherapeutic doses of lorcaserin were associated with significant levels of dislike by users as compared with placebo, zolpidem, and ketamine. Perceptual effects were minimal after administration of lorcaserin and significantly lower than after administration of either ketamine or zolpidem. The findings suggest that, at supratherapeutic doses, lorcaserin is associated with distinct, primarily negative, subjective effects and has low abuse potential.
authors.affiliation: Kendle Early Stage, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. shram.megan@kendle.com
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shram
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schoedel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Shazer
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sellers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007649:Ketamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058826:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011725:Pyridines; D058826:Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Agonists; C506658:lorcaserin; D007649:Ketamine; D000077334:Zolpidem