The investigators' recently completed study has provided the first evidence that administration of the medication propranolol, following exposure to cocaine cues, can alter drug-associated memories and reduce craving and other drug cue-elicited responses in cocaine addicted persons. The investigators will attempt to augment this effect by a) doubling the number of propranolol-medicated cocaine cue exposure (CCE) retrieval sessions and b) increasing the dose of propranolol. It is expected that propranolol treated groups, relative to placebo treated groups, will evidence greater reduction of craving, cue reactivity and cocaine use during follow-up cocaine cue exposures. Also, these effects will be greater for those who receive 80mg of propranolol as opposed to 40mg.
Three groups of CD (cocaine dependant) participants will receive two sessions of cocaine cue exposure (CCE), each separated by a 24 hr. period and both conducted while the participants remain in hospital. One group (PBO) will receive placebo following each CCE session while the second (40PP) and third (80PP) group will receive 40 mg and 80 mg propranolol, respectively. Participants will return two days, and 1, 3, and 6 weeks after discharge and will be administered a CCE session to assess for maintenance/generalization of disruption of reconsolidation (DoR) effects on craving and cue reactivity to familiar and novel cocaine cues. Participants will also be assessed 3 times weekly for cocaine use (self-report \& urine drug screen) during follow-up.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
181
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Cocaine Use
Timeline of cocaine use throughout the duration of the study (in dollar amounts)
Time frame: Evaluated at Weeks 1, 3 and 6
Change in Craving Score
The participant is asked, "What is the level of craving you are experiencing on a scale or 0 to 100, with 0 representing no craving and 100 extreme craving"?
Time frame: Single-Item Craving Scores are collected at all Retrieval Extinction Sessions (medication days), as well as all Phase Two Test Sessions (weeks 1,3 and 6).
Days of Abstinence
How many days the participants used cocaine versus how many days of abstinence they were able to achieve.
Time frame: Week 1, Week 3, and Week 6
Average Peak Craving Score
Peak Craving Response from Session Baseline- peak craving is measured by a scale with a score of 0 (no craving) -100 (maximum craving).
Time frame: Day 2, Week 1, Week 3, and Week 6
Use Days
Mean Days of Cocaine Use
Time frame: Week 1, Week 3, Week 6
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