Pergolide mesylate for cocaine abuse: A controlled preliminary trial

A snail, controlled study was conducted to assess whether pergolide mesylat e has clinical promise as a treatment for cocaine abuse prior to embarking on a larger, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Fourteen individua ls were placed on placebo for 2 weeks, followed by a 24-week single-blind s tudy in which they were placed on pergolide for 12 weeks, followed by place bo for 12 weeks. Another 14 patients received single-blind placebo for two weeks and then were randomized into a 24-week double-blind placebo-controll ed, multiple baseline design. Initially patients enrolled in the study, wer e Placed oil risperidone (n = 3) or placebo (n = 5). During the first 12 we eks, retention was worse for those receiving pergolide compared to risperid one or placebo. Neither risperidone nor pergolide were more efficacious in reducing cocaine use than Placebo. Although earlier open studies found perg olide to to show promise as a treatment for cocaine abuse, this study did n ot support these earlier findings. Comparing an agent to both an active con trol and placebo group may better predict whether a promising new agent wil l have clinical utility compared to the standard open trial.