The Effects of Pharmacotherapy on Brain Mechanisms Underlying Cocaine Dependence.
Status:
Suspended
Trial end date:
2011-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The overall aim of this project is to use an advanced brain imaging technique, PET, in order
to monitor the progress of pharmacotherapy with modafinil or topiramate for cocaine
dependence in methadone-maintained patients who use cocaine in addition. Comparisons will be
made within the cocaine dependent methadone maintained subjects, between the start and end of
treatment, and between the two medications. This is the first systematic research study of
pharmacological treatment for cocaine dependence in Israel. This study is of major clinical
use, with implications for the treatment of cocaine dependence in poly-drug abusers in
Israel. Successful pharmacotherapy for cocaine dependence is expected in reduction in
cue-induced subjective craving and in glucose metabolism in brain areas elicited by cocaine
craving. Metabolic activity in regions that are activated by craving should be correlated
with dopamine DRD2 receptor occupancy in all patients.