Tp. George et al., Disulfiram versus placebo for cocaine dependence in buprenorphine-maintained subjects: A preliminary trial, BIOL PSYCHI, 47(12), 2000, pp. 1080-1086
Background: We examined the effects of disulfiran versus placebo on cocaine
dependence in buprenorphine-maintained subjects, Methods: Opioid and cocai
ne dependent subjects (n = 20) were induced onto buprenorphine maintenance,
then randomized to disulfiram (250 mg q.d; n = II) or placebo (n = 9) trea
tment for 12 weeks. Results: Groups were comparable at baseline on demograp
hic measures and on baseline measures of drug-use severity. Fifteen subject
s completed the study, including 8 subjects randomized to disulfiram (72.7%
) and 7 subjects randomized to placebo (77.8%). The total number of weeks a
bstinent from cocaine was significantly greater on disulfiran versus placeb
o (mean +/- SD: 7.8 +/- 2.6 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.5, p < .05) and the number of day
s to achieving 3 weeks (24.6 +/- 15.1 vs. 57.8 +/- 7.7, p < .01) of continu
ous cocaine abstinence was significantly lower in disulfiram compared with
placebo, The number of cocaine-negative urine tests during the trial were a
lso higher on disulfiram (14.7) than on placebo 18.6); furthermore, subject
s in the disulfiran,group achieved consistently higher rates of cocaine-neg
ative urine tests in each 3-week interval and the increase over time was fa
ster in the disulfiram compared with placebo. Conclusions: This preliminary
study suggests the potential efficancy of dissulfiram versus placebo for t
reatment of cocaine depoendence in buprenorphine-maintained patients. Biol
Psychiatry 2000;47:1080-1086 (C) 2000 Society of Biological Psychiatry.