Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
Published on: June 18, 2018
Emerging pharmacological strategies in the fight against cocaine addiction
Mehmet Sofuoglu1, Thomas R Kosten
1Department of Psychiatry, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Yale University, School of Medicine, West Haven, CT 06516, USA. Mehmet.Sofuoglu@yale.edu
Abstract:
Cocaine addiction continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. At present, there are no proven pharmacotherapies for cocaine addiction. The studies reviewed here revealed a number of emerging targets for cocaine pharmacotherapy. First, disulfiram, a medication with dopaminergic effects, reduced cocaine use in a number of clinical trials. Second, GABA medications, tiagabine and topiramate, were found promising in clinical trials. Third, a beta-adrenergic blocker, propranolol, may be effective especially among cocaine-addicted individuals with high withdrawal severity. Fourth, treatment with a stimulant medication, modafinil, has reduced cocaine use. Last, a cocaine vaccine that slows entry of cocaine into the brain holds promise. These promising findings need to be further tested in controlled clinical trials.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
Adrenergic Agonists: Indirect-Acting Agents
One mechanism involves depleting stored catecholamines by displacing them from synaptic vesicles. These agents, known as "displacers," are transported into vesicles at the expense of noradrenaline. Examples include amphetamine and tyramine, which lack a catechol moiety, resulting in prolonged action, improved oral bioavailability, and...
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Stimulants
Cocaine can be administered via snorting, injection, or smoking. It primarily functions by blocking the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in a euphoric high characterized by an intense sensation of happiness and...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake
Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

