The effects of lisuride on mood and sleep during acute withdrawal in stimulant abusers: a preliminary report.

Abstract

Psychostimulant abusers often experience anhedonia, depression, fatigue, craving, and hypersomnia and increased propensity for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep during periods of acute and subacute withdrawal from cocaine and amphetamine. These signs and symptoms may reflect a state of relative functional dopamine depletion in the brain during abstinence. Lisuride, which has dopaminergic agonist effects, has been reported to reduce signs of psychostimulant withdrawal in rodent models of stimulant abuse. These observations prompted us to test the effects of oral administration of lisuride for 3 weeks (up to 4.0 mg daily) on mood and craving ratings in a double-blind, parallel design, controlled study in hospitalized stimulant abusers during acute withdrawal from cocaine or amphetamine. Although administration of lisuride significantly prolonged REM latency and reduced REM time, amelioration of other signs of withdrawal was not significantly greater in lisuride as compared with placebo treated patients. Self-rated craving ratings, however, were low in both groups throughout the hospital stay. Further studies, perhaps in patients with more severe symptoms during withdrawal, are needed to fully test the efficacy of lisuride in the treatment of stimulant withdrawal.

• Authors: J C Gillin, L Pulvirenti, N Withers, S Golshan, G Koob
• Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 35 Issue 11 Pg. 843-9 (Jun 01 1994) ISSN: 0006-3223 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8054406 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Crack Cocaine
• Receptors, Dopamine
• Methamphetamine
• Cocaine

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Affect (drug effects)
• Brain (drug effects)
• Cocaine
• Crack Cocaine
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Humans
• Male
• Methamphetamine
• Middle Aged
• Neurologic Examination (drug effects)
• Receptors, Dopamine (drug effects)
• Sleep, REM (drug effects)
• Substance Withdrawal Syndrome (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Substance-Related Disorders (rehabilitation)