Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 17, 2025
09:16
A General Method for Evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Intravenous Methamphetamine Self-Administration
Published on: January 22, 2016
15.4K
Mirtazapine reduces hypothetical methamphetamine demand in humans
Craig R Rush1, Glenn-Milo Santos2, Vanessa M McMahan3
1Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
|June 28, 2025
Summary
Mirtazapine significantly reduced methamphetamine demand in a clinical trial. This medication was well-tolerated and warrants further investigation for treating methamphetamine use disorder.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Medicine
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Previous research indicates mirtazapine can decrease methamphetamine use.
- This study investigated mirtazapine's impact on the immediate effects of methamphetamine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the pharmacodynamic effects of methamphetamine after mirtazapine treatment.
- To assess mirtazapine's influence on methamphetamine's acute subjective and cardiovascular effects.
Main Methods:
- A placebo-controlled, crossover, double-blind trial was conducted.
- Participants received intravenous methamphetamine (0 or 30mg) after 5 days of mirtazapine (0 or 30mg/day) or placebo.
- Assessments included a drug purchasing task, subjective effects questionnaire, and cardiovascular measures.
Main Results:
- Methamphetamine administration increased drug demand, heart rate, and blood pressure in the placebo condition.
- Mirtazapine treatment significantly reduced methamphetamine demand.
- Subjective and cardiovascular effects of methamphetamine did not differ between mirtazapine and placebo conditions.
Conclusions:
- Mirtazapine effectively reduced hypothetical drug demand and was well-tolerated.
- Findings support continued research into mirtazapine as a potential pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder.
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