Topiramate, a drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat epilepsy and migraine headaches, could also be the first reliable medication to help treat cocaine dependence.
Medications to Prevent Relapse to Cocaine Use
Treatment of cocaine addiction has always been hampered by high rates of relapse, even after prolonged drug abstinence. Research teams from the Drug
Treatment of cocaine addiction has always been hampered by high rates of relapse, even after prolonged drug abstinence. Research teams from the Drug
Professor Johnson, one of the nation's leading neuroscientists and psychopharmacologists, had previously found that topiramate was a safe and effective treatment for alcohol dependence compared with placebo.
In releasing the new study, Professor Johnson, who conducted the research when he was with Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, provided full disclosures.
Lethal Heart Condition linked To Cocaine Use
Cocaine can cause a lethal rupture in the heart’s main artery, a condition that should be suspected in people treated for chest pain. The condition
Cocaine can cause a lethal rupture in the heart’s main artery, a condition that should be suspected in people treated for chest pain. The condition
Following enrollment, participants were randomly assigned into a topiramate group or placebo group.
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Cocaine Exposure Before Birth may Impact Brain Development
Prenatal cocaine exposure may have a bunch of negative impacts on the baby's brain development and behavior
Prenatal cocaine exposure may have a bunch of negative impacts on the baby's brain development and behavior
Using an intent-to-treat analysis, the researchers found that topiramate was more efficacious than placebo at increasing the participants' weekly proportion of cocaine nonuse days and in increasing the likelihood that participants would have cocaine-free weeks.
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Brain of Cocaine Addicts Smaller In Size
In a new study, advanced imaging techniques reveals unexpected structural differences in the brains of cocaine addicts. For the study researchers
In a new study, advanced imaging techniques reveals unexpected structural differences in the brains of cocaine addicts. For the study researchers
The study investigators also observed few side effects due to drug treatment.
In general, participants in the topiramate group experienced mild side-effects, including abnormal tingling skin sensations, taste distortions, anorexia, and difficulty concentrating.
The research is published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Source-ANI
