Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
07:51
A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder
Published on: June 18, 2018
11.2K
Antipsychotic medications for cocaine dependence
Blanca I Indave1, Silvia Minozzi, Pier Paolo Pani
1European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Lisboa, Portugal.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|March 20, 2016
Summary
Antipsychotic medications show no proven efficacy for treating cocaine dependence, despite reducing dropout rates in some studies. Further research is needed due to small sample sizes and low-quality evidence.
Area of Science:
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychopharmacology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Cocaine dependence is a significant public health issue with high relapse rates and associated medical/psychosocial complications.
- Currently, no pharmacological treatments for cocaine dependence have demonstrated proven efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and acceptability of antipsychotic medications for treating cocaine dependence.
- This review updates a previous Cochrane review on the topic.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials.
- Searched multiple databases up to July 2015, including non-English literature.
- Included 14 studies with 719 participants evaluating various antipsychotic drugs.
Main Results:
- Antipsychotics, as a class, significantly reduced dropout rates (moderate quality evidence).
- No significant differences were found for cocaine use, continuous abstinence, side effects, or craving (low quality evidence).
- Quetiapine showed potential in reducing cocaine use and craving in one small study, but overall evidence quality is low.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence does not support the clinical use of antipsychotic medications for cocaine dependence.
- Limitations include small sample sizes, moderate to low evidence quality, high attrition bias, and poor reporting in included studies.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
1.1K
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic...
1.1K
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
660
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
660
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
1.2K
Antipsychotic drugs are classified into first-generation (typical) drugs including phenothiazines; and second-generation (atypical) drugs. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride (Thorazine), a phenothiazine derivative, broadly impacts the central, autonomic, and endocrine systems. This drug, along with typical agents like haloperidol (Haldol), primarily works by antagonizing D2 receptors, thus reducing dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, typical antipsychotics can cause side effects such as sedation...
1.2K
01:28Drug Therapy
391
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
391
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Therapeutic Uses and Side Effects
1.1K
Antipsychotic drugs primarily block dopamine and serotonin receptors and cholinergic, adrenergic, and histaminergic receptors, thereby reducing hallucinations and delusions in conditions like schizophrenia. However, they can trigger unwanted extrapyramidal effects such as dystonias, Parkinson-like symptoms, and tardive dyskinesia.
Despite these side effects, antipsychotics are used therapeutically for various purposes, including managing schizophrenia, preventing nausea and vomiting, curbing...
Despite these side effects, antipsychotics are used therapeutically for various purposes, including managing schizophrenia, preventing nausea and vomiting, curbing...
1.1K
01:24CNS Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines and Cannabinoids
1.1K
CNS stimulants, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and cannabinoids, have varying structures and mechanisms of action that lead to different therapeutic effects and side effects. Cocaine, with its molecular formula C17H21NO4, is a tropane alkaloid and a tertiary amino compound. It has two chemical forms: the hydrochloride salt and the "freebase." The former is in powder form, while the latter involves removing the hydrochloride salt to create a form that can be smoked. Cocaine exerts its...
1.1K