Previous research has shown that disulfiram, a medication sometimes used for treating
alcoholism, discourages cocaine use among cocaine addicts who are undergoing methadone
treatment. By blocking the enzyme dopamine beta hydroxylase (DBH), disulfiram increases
levels of dopamine and produces an unpleasant sense of hyperstimulation and discomfort in
cocaine users. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of disulfiram in preventing drug
relapse among cocaine and opiate addicts with varying inherited levels of DBH.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Baylor College of Medicine
Collaborators:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Yale University