Venlafaxine treatment of cocaine
abusers with depressive disorders

by
McDowell DM, Levin FR, Seracini AM, Nunes EV
New York State Psychiatric Institute,
New York, USA.
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 2000 Feb; 26(1):25-31


ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: There appears to be a link between depression and cocaine that is both complex and elusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of venlafaxine, a broad spectrum antidepressant, in the treatment of 13 patients who were diagnosed with cocaine dependence and comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD). METHOD: The majority of the patients in the study were part of a larger double-blind trial using desipramine. This subgroup consisted of people who had failed to respond to desipramine or could not tolerate its side effects. Thirteen patients were enrolled, 10 men and 3 women. Of the patients, 11 completed the 12-week study. All of the patients had a Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) score greater than 14 at baseline, and each had used at least $20 worth of cocaine per week in the 4 weeks prior to entering the study. In addition, all of the patients received weekly relapse prevention therapy throughout the study. The median dose of venlafaxine was 150 mg/day. RESULTS: The 11 patients who completed the study had significant reductions in mood symptoms by the end of the study. The average total HAM-D score at baseline was 18.0 +/- 3.2; at Week 2, it was 1.9 +/- 0.94; and at the end of the study, it was 1.4 +/- 1.8. The majority of patients reported reductions of cocaine use short of abstinence. All subjects reported a greater than 75% reduction in cocaine use compared to baseline. There were no serious side effects. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this small study indicate that venlafaxine may be a safe, well-tolerated, rapidly acting, and effective treatment for patients with a dual diagnosis of depression and cocaine dependence.


Venlafaxine
Oral cocaine
Cocaine hotspots
Cocaine withdrawal
The coke-craving brain
The neural basis of addiction
Freebasing flies go hyperkinetic
Cocaine, alcohol and cocaethylene
Cocaethylene and cocaine dependence
Antidepressants for cocaine dependence

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24


Refs
HOME
HedWeb
BLTC Research
Wirehead Hedonism
Paradise-Engineering
Utopian Pharmacology
The Hedonistic Imperative
When Is It Best To Take Crack Cocaine?

swan image
The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family