title: Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor Huperzine A as a Treatment for Cocaine Use Disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cholinergic transmission is altered by drugs of abuse and contributes to psychostimulant reinforcement. In particular, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, like huperzine A, may be effective as treatments for cocaine use disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current report describes results from a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which participants (n=14-17/group) were randomized to huperzine A (0.4 or 0.8 mg) or placebo. Participants received randomized infusions of cocaine (0 and 40 mg, IV) on days 1 and 9. On day 10, participants received noncontingent, randomized infusions of cocaine (0 and 20mg, IV) before making 5 choices to receive additional infusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Huperzine A was safe and well-tolerated and compared with placebo, treatment with huperzine A did not cause significant changes in any cocaine pharmacokinetic parameters (all P>.05). Time-course and peak effects analyses show that treatment with 0.4 mg of huperzine A significantly attenuated cocaine-induced increases of "Any Drug Effect," "High," "Stimulated," "Willing to Pay," and "Bad Effects" (all P>.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study represents a significant contribution to the addiction field since it serves as the first published report on the safety and potential efficacy of huperzine A as a treatment for cocaine use disorder.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, TX. rg12@bcm.edu.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De La Garza
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Verrico
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Daisy G Y
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Thompson-Lake
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012646:Self Administration; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: Cocaine; acetylcholine; acetylcholinesterase inhibitor; huperzine A