AMANTADINE IN THE EARLY TREATMENT OF COCAINE DEPENDENCE - A DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

A 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of amantadine was con ducted in 61 cocaine dependent outpatients. Subjects received 100 mg o f amantadine 3 times daily. A follow-up visit was conducted at week 8. There were no significant differences between groups in treatment ret ention, or in the number of benzoylecgonine positive urine samples. Se lf-reported drug and alcohol use declined in both groups. At week 8 fo llow-up, self-reported drug use was significantly lower in the placebo group. Amantadine was not effective, and discontinuation of it may ha ve been associated with an increase in cocaine use.