Cocaine withdrawal symptoms are a major contributing factor for why outpatient cocaine dependence treatment programs often fail. Individuals with severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms often experience anxiety, shaking, and muscle pain. Amantadine is a medication currently used to improve muscle control, reduce shaking, and lessen stiffness. Therefore, it may help reduce the muscle pain that some cocaine addicts experience. By enhancing activity of the brain chemical dopamine, amantadine may also reduce other symptoms associated with cocaine withdrawal. Propranolol is a medication currently used to treat high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. It may reduce anxiety and lessen cocaine cravings in individuals addicted to cocaine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of amantadine and propranolol, alone and in combination, for treating cocaine addicts with severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms.~A 2-week baseline evaluation period will be followed by an 8-week treatment phase. During the baseline evaluation, cocaine use will be measured with urine tests, three times each week. Only participants who are experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms and who use cocaine at least twice during the first 2 weeks will continue in the study. Eligible individuals will then be randomly assigned to receive amantadine alone, propranolol alone, a combination of amantadine and propranolol, or placebo. Treatments will begin at Week 3 and study visits will occur three times each week. Cocaine levels will be monitored throughout the study with urine tests.
Cocaine addiction is a serious health problem with no available medical treatment for preventing relapse. Amantadine, a medication that improves muscle control, and propranolol, a medication that lowers blood pressure, may be useful in treating cocaine addiction in individuals with severe cocaine withdrawal symptoms. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of amantadine and propranolol in preventing drug relapse among cocaine addicts.