Glutamatergic Modulation of Cocaine-related Deficits

Summary

Cocaine dependence involves problematic neuroadaptations, such as heightened reactivity to cocaine cues, that may be responsive to pharmacological modulation of glutamatergic circuits. Despite promising preclinical findings with n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAr) modulators, studies with human subjects have been unsuccessful to date. The purpose of this investigation is to examine the effects of the NMDAr antagonist ketamine, recently found to have potent therapeutic effects in humans, on cue-induced craving and impaired motivation for quitting cocaine in cocaine dependent participants, 24-hours post-infusion.

Timeline

Start

2011-02

Primary completion

2012-03

Completion

2012-03

Publications

• Dakwar E, Levin F, Foltin RW, Nunes EV, Hart CL. The effects of subanesthetic ketamine infusions on motivation to quit and cue-induced craving in cocaine-dependent research volunteers. Biol Psychiatry. 2014 Jul 1;76(1):40-6. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.08.009. Epub 2013 Sep 12.

Drugs

Indications