A placebo-controlled trial of L-dopa/carbidopa in early cocaine abstinence

Abstract

Thirty patients with primary cocaine dependence who had used cocaine within the past 24 hours and were being admitted to a detoxification ward were rated for signs and symptoms of cocaine abstinence and craving. They then received four doses of either L-dihydroxy-phenylalanine/carbidopa (100 mg/25 mg) or placebo over the next day. Ratings were repeated in the late afternoon of the day of admission and after the final morning dose the next day. No significant differences in abstinence scores were found between the two treatment groups. The lack of drug-placebo differences appeared to be mainly due to rapid clearing of abstinence symptoms in the placebo-treated patients.