LACK OF NEUROTOXIC EFFECT OF DIETHYLPROPION IN CRACK-COCAINE ABUSERS

Dopamine agonists have been used with some success in treating cocaine addiction. However, both cocaine and psychostimulants have been repor ted to produce neurotoxic effects. We evaluated the effect of the stim ulant diethylpropion on cognitive performance in a double-blind, place bo-controlled trial. Forty-six abstinent crack-cocaine users received either placebo, 25-mg, 50-mg, or 75-mg doses of diethylpropion. Patien ts were tested at baseline and again after 9-14 days of medication. Th ere were no differences between placebo and medication groups on any t est, indicating that, within the time frame studied, diethylpropion do es not produce neurotoxic effects that can be detected with standardiz ed neuropsychological tests.