Neurobiological Adaptations and Pharmacological Interventions in Cocaine Addiction

Summary

This study aims at testing for the impact of glutamatergic changes on drug craving in cocaine addiction, and to evaluate the effects of n-acetylcysteine (n-AC) on both glutamate homeostasis and craving using a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled cross-over design.

Conditions

• Cocaine Addiction

Interventions

DRUG

N-Acetylcystein

n-AC will be given according to a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design. Subjects receive 3 doses of n-AC over 2 consecutive days (total dose=4800mg; individual doses=2x1200mg, 1x2400mg). Subjects will take 2 first doses (à 1200mg) of n-AC 5 days after the screening assessment (one in the morning, one in the evening), and the last dose (2400mg) 1h prior to scanning, with 12 hours dosing intervals in between. Preparation and blinding of n-AC capsules will be performed by the Kantonsapotheke Zürich according to the guidelines of Good Manufacturing Practice.

DRUG

Placebo

14 days before or after, placebo will be administered analogously as described with n-AC. Placebo will be given according to a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design. Subjects receive 3 doses of placebo over 2 consecutive days (total dose=4800mg; individual doses=2x1200mg, 1x2400mg). Subjects will take 2 first doses (à 1200mg) of placebo 1 day before scanning (one in the morning, one in the evening), and the last dose (2400mg) 1h prior to scanning, with 12 hours dosing intervals in between. Preparation and blinding of placebo capsules will be performed by the Kantonsapotheke Zürich according to the guidelines of Good Manufacturing Practice.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology

  collaborator OTHER

• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• Max-Planck-Institut Tübingen

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marcus Herdener, MD · Center for Addicitve Disorders

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-03-31

Primary Completion

2017-03-31

Completion

2017-03-31

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations