BROMOCRIPTINE FOR COCAINE DEPENDENCE - A CONTROLLED CLINICAL-TRIAL

On the basis of the dopamine depletion theory, bromocriptine has been tested to treat cocaine withdrawal and dependence. The authors conduct ed a 6-week study with 1 week of pretreatment observation and 5 weeks of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of br omocriptine for DSM-III-R-defined cocaine dependence in methadone-main tained male patients. The bromocriptine group (n = 24) did not differ from the placebo group (n = 26) in self-reported cocaine use proportio n of positive urine toxicology samples, craving for cocaine, resistanc e to cocaine use, or mood symptoms between the pretreatment baseline a nd the last week of the clinical trial Both groups showed significant reduction in self-reported frequency of cocaine Erse, resistance to cr aving, and mood symptoms during participation in the protocol. The res ults of this study are consistent with recent clinical and laboratory findings in primary cocaine users. Despite initially promising pilot s tudies, recent evidence does not support the efficacy of bromocriptine to reduce cocaine use or craving.