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Cocaine tolerance: behavioral, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine function in men
J H Mendelson1, M Sholar, N K Mello
1McLean Hospital-Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA.
Summary
Chronic cocaine use may lead to tolerance, reducing its physiological, neuroendocrine, and subjective effects. Occasional users experienced greater responses to cocaine compared to dependent individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Cocaine use can lead to tolerance, where repeated exposure diminishes its effects.
- Understanding tolerance is crucial for addiction treatment and harm reduction strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cocaine tolerance by comparing acute cocaine effects in occasional users versus cocaine-dependent individuals.
- To assess differences in physiological, neuroendocrine, and subjective responses.
Main Methods:
- Compared acute cocaine effects in two groups: occasional users (n=6) and DSM-III-R cocaine/opiate-dependent men (n=6).
- Measured plasma cocaine levels, ACTH, heart rate, blood pressure, and subjective "high" and "euphoria" reports.
- Utilized pharmacokinetic analysis to compare cocaine levels over time.
Main Results:
- Plasma cocaine levels and pharmacokinetics were similar between groups.
- Occasional users showed significantly greater increases in ACTH, heart rate, and blood pressure post-cocaine.
- Occasional users reported significantly higher levels of "high" and "euphoria".
Conclusions:
- Data suggest tolerance to cocaine's physiological, neuroendocrine, and subjective effects develops with chronic use.
- This tolerance may manifest as reduced responses in dependent individuals compared to occasional users.
- Findings support the hypothesis that repeated cocaine exposure leads to diminished acute effects.