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Inpharma 1221 - 22 Jan 2000
Ecopipam: calming cocainecravings
The dopamine D1 receptor antagonist ecopipam mayhave potential in the treatment of cocaine abuse, reportresearchers from Canada and the US.1
15 cocaine-dependent patients received oralecopipam 10mg, 25mg and 100mg, and placebo, ondays 1, 4, 7 and 11 of a 14-day study, in a crossoverfashion. Each study dosage was followed 2 hours laterby a single IV 30-second infusion of cocaine 30mg.
Reduced euphoriaMean visual analogue scale self-ratings of euphoria
and anxiety were reduced in a dose-dependent mannerafter ecopipam administration, but increased afterplacebo administration. In addition, mean ratings ofdesire for cocaine were significantly diminished afterecopipam 25 and 100mg, compared with placebo,administration.
Results of laboratory tests and EEGs revealed nosignificant changes after ecopipam, compared withplacebo, administration.
Dr George Koob from the Scripps Research Institute,La Jolla, California, US, comments in an accompanyingeditorial that the results of the above-mentioned studyrepresent ‘an important advance’.2
Dr Koob adds that the use of full antagonists in thetreatment of addiction has generally failed because ofissues of compliance. Dr Koob suggests that instead ‘adopamine partial agonist for the D1 receptor ultimatelymay prove a more effective and safer medication forcocaine addiction’, and that ‘a drug with actions at boththe D3 and D1 dopamine receptor subtypes may be aparticularly powerful combination for the treatment ofcocaine addiction’.1. Romach MK, et al. Attenuation of the euphoric effects of cocaine by the
dopamine D1/D5 antagonist ecopipam (SCH 39166). Archives of GeneralPsychiatry 56: 1101-1106, Dec 1999.
2. Koob GF. Cocaine reward and dopamine receptors: love at first site. Archives ofGeneral Psychiatry 56: 1107-1108, Dec 1999.
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» Editorial comment: Ecopipam is in phase II trials withSchering-Plough as an antipsychotic and in clinical trials for thetreatment of cocaine abuse.
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Inpharma 22 Jan 2000 No. 12211173-8324/10/1221-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved