Monkeys cocaine abuse

A series of DAT selective 3-phenyltropanes have been reported to have potential for treatment of cocaine abuse [33,36,37]. RTI-336,15 (reuptake IC50 — 4.1 nM) was the most potent among these tropane derivatives in locomotor activity and drug discrimination it was less stimulatory than cocaine, and had the slowest onset and longest duration of action. It also reduced self-administration of cocaine in rats and rhesus monkeys. Interestingly, in rhesus monkeys trained to self-administer cocaine, when coadministrated with either citalopram or sertraline, 15 produced significantly more robust reductions in cocaine self-administration compared with 15 alone [38]. 

Other drugs of the depressant, antianxiety, antipyschotic, and anticonvulsive types are being investigated as treatments for cocaine abuse. Those which have been or will be covered in this course include the heterocyclic antidepressants desipramine and imipramine, which diminish cocaine use and craving as well as improve the outcome in the first few months of treatment. Buprenorphine (depressant) may augment the reward system (it has been found to suppress self-administration of cocaine in monkeys). Lithium sometimes works for those who are clinically depressives. Carbamazapine, bromocriptine and mazindol are also used as well as fluphenthixol and buspirone. 

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