Amantadine in the early treatment of cocaine dependence: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

• Published in: Drug and alcohol dependence Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 25 - 33
• Main Authors: Kampman, Kyle, Volpicelli, Joseph R., Alterman, Arthur, Cornish, James, Weinrieb, Robert, Epperson, Louise, Sparkman, Thorne, O'Brien, Charles P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.1996; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Abusers; Adult; Alcoholism - diagnosis; Alcoholism - psychology; Alcoholism - rehabilitation; Amantadine; Amantadine - therapeutic use; Amantadine hydrochloride; Biological and medical sciences; Cocaine; Comorbidity; Dopamine Agents - therapeutic use; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double blind studies; Double-Blind Method; Double-blind outpatient; Drug addictions; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Opioid-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Opioid-Related Disorders - psychology; Opioid-Related Disorders - rehabilitation; Substance Abuse Detection; Toxicology; Treatment; Treatment Outcome; Withdrawal; Cocaine; Amantadine hydrochloride; Double-blind outpatient; Withdrawal; Human; Drug addiction; Chemotherapy; Poison withdrawal; Treatment; Dependence
• ISSN: 0376-8716; 1879-0046
• DOI: 10.1016/0376-8716(96)01225-2

A 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of amantadine was conducted in 61 cocaine dependent outpatients. Subjects received 100 mg of amantadine 3 times daily. A follow-up visit was conducted at week 8. There were no significant differences between groups in treatment retention, or in the number of benzoylecgonine positive urine samples. Self-reported drug and alcohol use declined in both groups. At week 8 follow-up, self-reported drug use was significantly lower in the placebo group. Amantadine was not effective, and discontinuation of it may have been associated with an increase in cocaine use.