Double-blind comparison of amantadine and bromocriptine for ambulatory withdrawal from cocaine dependence

Amantadine hydrochloride and bromocriptine mesylate were compared on a double-blind basis for withdrawal from cocaine dependence. Both amantadine and bromocriptine appear effective in alleviating the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. In doses higher than previously reported, however, bromocriptine caused enough side effects to produce treatment dropouts; neither drug produced euphoria. Amantadine appears to primarily exert its therapeutic influence by releasing dopamine and norepinephrine from neuronal storage sites that are depleted by chronic cocaine dependence, and bromocriptine acts as a dopamine agonist and stimulates dopamine receptors.