Behavioral and physiological effects of cocaine in humans following triazolam.

RATIONALE: Cocaine abuse represents a significant public health problem. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonists may attenuate the behavioral effects of cocaine and may be effective pharmacotherapies for cocaine abuse and dependence.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this experiment was to determine the combined effects of oral cocaine (0 and 300 mg) and triazolam (0 and 0.5 mg), a GABA(A) modulator, in 10 individuals with recent histories of cocaine use.

METHODS

Volunteers received each of the four possible drug combinations in mixed order. Drug effects were assessed using a battery of subject-rated drug-effect questionnaires and physiological indices.

RESULTS

Cocaine alone produced prototypical stimulant-like subject-rated drug effects (e.g., increased ratings of High, Like Drug, and Willing to Take Drug Again). Triazolam alone produced sedative-like effects (e.g., increased scores on the Pentobarbital, Chlorpromazine, Alcohol Group [PCAG] scale of the Addiction Research Center Inventory [ARCI]). Triazolam pretreatment did not significantly attenuate the subject-rated effects of cocaine.

CONCLUSIONS

While the results of this study do not support the utility of GABA(A) modulators as pharmacotherapies for cocaine abuse, future research should test other benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam) using more sophisticated methods (e.g., dose-response curves for the drugs alone and in combination) and behavioral arrangements (e.g., drug discrimination).