A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of ritanserin pharmacotherapy for cocaine dependence

Eighty cocaine-dependent individuals enrolled in outpatient treatment took part in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ritanserin, a 5-HT2 antagonist, as an adjunct therapy. Participants attended an outpat ient day hospital therapy program each day and received tablets containing placebo or 10 mg ritanserin for a 4-week period. Primary outcome measures i ncluded retention in treatment, urine drug tests, and self-reports of cravi ng. Secondary outcome measures were depression scores on the Beck and Hamil ton inventories, negative mood as measured by the Profile of Mood States, a nd life functioning as measured by the Addiction Severity Index. Although p articipants showed improvement over the 4 weeks, there were no group differ ences on any of the measures. These results fail to support the use of rita nserin as a complement to outpatient psychosocial therapy for cocaine depen dence. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.