URINARY DOPAMINE METABOLITES DURING COCAINE ABSTINENCE

The authors compared catecholamine concentrations measured on 2-hour u rine collections of recently hospitalized cocaine abusers (CAs; n = 17 ) with those of detoxified alcoholic patients (APs; n = 20) and staff normal-control subjects (NCs; n = 23). CAs had been abstinent for G-8 days; APs had been abstinent for 9-53 days. Compared with NCs, the rec ently abstinent CAs had a decrease in the dopamine metabolite, 3,4-dih ydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and a decrease in Sum dopamine/Sum no repinephrine (the molar sum of dopamine and its metabolites/the molar sum of norepinephrine and its metabolites). The dopamine metabolite, 3 -methoxytyramine (3-MT) was increased. The detoxified APs had increase s in the norepinephrine metabolites normetanephrine and 3-methoxy-4-hy droxyphenylglycol in addition to elevated 3-MT. Sum dopamine/Sum norep inephrine was decreased in RPs compared with NCs. The authors discuss differences in light of other findings related to recent abstinence af ter cocaine and alcohol abuse.