Effectiveness of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) in Treating Cocaine Dependent Individuals - 1

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2010-05-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Currently, no effective drug treatment exists for cocaine dependence. Glutamate levels are disrupted with long-term cocaine use. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a drug that is metabolized by the body to form cysteine, an active compound that normalizes glutamate levels. The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of NAC in treating cocaine dependent individuals.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina
• Collaborator: National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
• Treatments: Acetylcysteine; Cocaine; N-monoacetylcystine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meets DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence, as determined by a mini-SCID interview

• Currently dependent on cocaine

• Seeking treatment for cocaine abuse at the time of study entry

• Currently uses cocaine by smoking, nasal, or intravenous route of administration.

• Stable physical and mental health, as judged by an interview and physical examination

• If female, demonstrates a negative pregnancy test and agrees to use an adequate method of contraception for the duration of the study

• Lives within a 50 mile radius of the research program center and has reliable transportation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Meets DSM-IV criteria for dependence on any psychoactive substance other than cocaine, alcohol, nicotine, or marijuana

• Physiological dependence on alcohol, which requires medical detoxification

• History of significant liver, kidney, endocrine, cardiac (e.g., arrhythmia requiring medication, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction), stroke, seizure, neurological, non-drug-related psychiatric, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (e.g., homocystinuria)

• History of an adverse reaction to cocaine, including loss of consciousness, chest pain, psychosis, or seizure

• History of adverse reaction or hypersensitivity to N-acetyl cystine (NAC), or a similar drug

• Significant active medical or psychiatric illness that might inhibit the ability to complete the study

• Active high blood pressure, defined as a mean of three sitting blood pressure readings of 145/95 or higher within a 10-day period

• History of or current asthma

• Occasional or daily use of albuterol or other beta-agonist inhalers

• Use of carbamazepine, phenytoin, nitrous oxide, methotrexate, 6 azauridine triacetate, or nitroglycerin within the 2 weeks prior to study entry

• Use of very large doses of folate, cyanocobalamine (vitamin B12), or pyridoxine (vitamin B6) as prescribed by a health care professional; individuals taking very large doses of these vitamins on a self-initiated basis may enter the study if they are willing to stop use 14 days prior to study entry and to use a standard generic multiple vitamin instead

• Pregnant or breastfeeding

• Required by the court to obtain treatment for cocaine dependence

• Not seeking treatment for cocaine dependence

• Anticipating elective surgery or hospitalization within 20 weeks of study entry

• Failure to have a consistent residence for the 4 weeks prior to study entry

• History of childhood or adult seizures

• Participated in cocaine treatment (clinical or research) within 30 days of study entry