Some scientists have speculated that cocaine damages the brain by causing thousands of microscopic strokes. Six received citicoline and eight received placebo twice a day for two weeks. Citicoline, which occurs in small amounts naturally in the body, has long been used in Japan and Europe to treat brain disorders, such as stroke, various types of dementia, Parkinson's disease and traumatic brain injury. In this country, citicoline is being investigated for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Besides its apparent ability to repair neuronal membranes, citicoline also moderately increases dopamine levels in the brain.
Scientists believe that the cocaine high comes in part from a flood of dopamine.
Chronic use of cocaine can cause a reduction in brain dopamine, which may contribute to craving of and dependence on cocaine. In the double-blind McLean study, patients reported reduced cravings for cocaine. McLean Hospital, consistently ranked one of the nation's top psychiatric facilities, is the largest psychiatric teaching facility of Harvard Medical School. McLean Hospital, consistently ranked one of the nation's top psychiatric facilities, is the largest psychiatric teaching facility of Harvard Medical School .