Memory Reconsolidation Blockade for Treating Drug Addiction
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-05-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The treatment involves administering propranolol, a medication indicated for treating high
blood pressure. Propranolol is hypothesized to reduce the strength of drug or alcohol
cravings (an integral factor involved in relapse), specifically when memories of substance
use are recalled. In this study, propranolol or a placebo will be administered to patients
participating in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation facility once a week over three or six
weeks. After receiving propranolol or placebo, strong memories associated with substance
craving are recalled by asking participants to read aloud a summary of a substance use
experience. The investigators hypothesize that participants who receive propranolol will
report fewer and less intense drug or alcohol cravings than participants who receive the
placebo or treatment-as-usual.