SUPPRESSION OF OPIATE WITHDRAWAL AND COCAINE HYPERAROUSAL SYNDROMES BY BUSPIRONE - POSSIBLE PHARMACOTHERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

Buspirone (CAS 36505-84-7) was evaluated in three animal models which were designed to study stages of drug abuse most likely associated wit h compulsive abuse. Buspirone attenuated abrupt withdrawal in rhesus m onkeys maximally-dependent on morphine. In addition, it completely blo cked the emergence of cocaine-induced stereotyped behavior in rats and attenuated the hyperarousal or rausch syndrome in morphine-dependent and non-dependent rhesus monkeys. Buspirone was active at doses which caused little, if any, impairment in the animals. The results suggest that buspirone may possibly nd application in the pharmacotherapy of o pioid and cocaine abuse.