Transdermal Rotigotine as Adjunct to Behavioral Therapy for Cocaine Use Disorder
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2026-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b pilot clinical trial to
determine whether non-ergoline D3/D2/D1 dopamine (DA) receptor agonist rotigotine (RTG), in
combination with treatment as usual, including individual or group behavioral therapy can a)
reduce cocaine use and also b) increase brain activity in frontocortical areas of the brain,
and, as a reflection of that - improve top-down cognitive control in persons with cocaine use
disorder (CocUD).
Rotigotine is a marketed non-ergoline D3/D2/D1 DA agonist (RTG, Neupro®) in the form of a
transdermal patch that is FDA-approved for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease and Restless
Legs Syndrome. The premise of this project was based on apparent beneficial effects of RTG in
a different human population characterized by executive function (EF) impairment. In light of
the deficits in EF common in persons with CocUD, RTG may hold the potential for cognitive
improvement in persons with CocUD who are in treatment as usual to both attend to and retain
psychoeducation concepts better. In addition, rotigotine may help these individuals in
recovery maintain goals better, where goal maintenance is a crucial integrative product of
successful EF.