ABSTRACT
Thirteen hospitalized cocaine addicts complaining of cocaine craving were given a single dose of bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design. Compared to placebo, bromocriptine caused a significant reduction in craving ratings. These data suggest that bromocriptine may be effective as a new, nonaddictive pharmacological treatment for cocaine addicts and support the notion that functional dopamine depletion occurs with chronic cocaine use. Open trials indicate that low-dose bromocriptine may be useful in cocaine detoxification.
Subject(s)
Bromocriptine/administration & dosage , Cocaine , Substance-Related Disorders/rehabilitation , Adult , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Humans , Male , Psychological Tests , Substance-Related Disorders/psychologyABSTRACT
The Drug Enforcement Administration classified the drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA, also known as Ecstacy, as a Schedule I controlled substance on July 1, 1985. The controversy surrounding the classification of MDMA is related to the question of its efficacy as an adjunct to psychotherapy and the larger issue of how to regulate the production and use of designer drugs. The authors review the literature on MDMA and its predecessor, MDA, a substance that differs from MDMA by one methyl group.
