Is Cocaine Desire Reduced by N -Acetylcysteine?

Objective: Animal models suggest that N -acetylcysteine inhibits cocaine-seeking. The present pilot study evaluated whether N -acetylcysteine would suppress reactivity to cocaine-related cues in cocaine-dependent humans. Method: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 15 participants receive...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of psychiatry 2007-07, Vol.164 (7), p.1115-1117
Main Authors: LaRowe, Steven D., Myrick, Hugh, Hedden, Sarra, Mardikian, Pascale, Saladin, Michael, McRae, Aimee, Brady, Kathleen, Kalivas, Peter W., Malcolm, Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetylcysteine - therapeutic use
Adult
Affect
Behavior, Addictive - drug therapy
Behavior, Addictive - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Cocaine
Cocaine-Related Disorders - drug therapy
Cocaine-Related Disorders - psychology
Cross-Over Studies
Cues
Double-Blind Method
Drug abuse
Drug therapy
Female
Hospitalization
Humans
Likert scale
Male
Medical sciences
Methods
Middle Aged
Neuropharmacology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Placebos
Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease)
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Psychopharmacology
Secondary Prevention
Substance abuse treatment
Visual Perception
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Summary:Objective: Animal models suggest that N -acetylcysteine inhibits cocaine-seeking. The present pilot study evaluated whether N -acetylcysteine would suppress reactivity to cocaine-related cues in cocaine-dependent humans. Method: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 15 participants received N -acetylcysteine or placebo during a 3-day hospitalization. Participants were crossed over to receive the opposite condition on a second, identical 3-day stay occurring 4 days later. During each hospital stay, participants completed a cue-reactivity procedure that involved collecting psychophysical and subjective data in response to slides depicting cocaine and cocaine use. Results: While taking N -acetylcysteine, participants reported less desire to use and less interest in response to cocaine slides and watched cocaine slides for less time. Conclusions: The inhibition of cocaine cue reactivity is consistent with existing preclinical data and supports the use of N -acetylcysteine as a treatment for cocaine dependence.
ISSN:0002-953X
1535-7228
DOI:10.1176/ajp.2007.164.7.1115