Conditions: Cocaine Dependence
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 33
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Stress is associated with drug craving and relapse in substance-dependent individuals. Hormones released from the brain may mediate the behavioral response to stress. For example, several studies have indicated that oxytocin reduces stress in laboratory stress paradigms. Specifically, it appears that oxytocin promotes trust, social interaction, and calmness; yet, little is known about the potential affects of oxytocin in cocaine-dependent individuals. Given these properties of oxytocin, it may have a therapeutic role in ameliorating the negative affect commonly observed prior to relapse in cocaine-dependent individuals, as well as the anxiety associated with withdrawal. This pilot protocol will provide important preliminary data on the effect of oxytocin on stress in cocaine-dependent individuals.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: None arm 2: None

Interventions: intervention 1: oxytocin intervention 2: saline
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Subjects will be administered 40 IUs of oxytocin nasal spray or matching placebo at 1:15pm. This dose and timing of administration was selected based on previous studies that have used similar doses of oxytocin (Ditzen, et al., 2009; Heinrichs, et al., 2003). Intranasal oxytocin and matching placebo will be compounded by Pitt Street Pharmacy Custom Compounding (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina). Randomization will be done by a licensed pharmacist who will keep a record of the blind and be available should unblinding be necessary. intervention 2: Subjects will be administered 40 IUs of oxytocin nasal spray or matching placebo at 1:15pm. This dose and timing of administration was selected based on previous studies that have used similar doses of oxytocin (Ditzen, et al., 2009; Heinrichs, et al., 2003). Intranasal oxytocin and matching placebo will be compounded by Pitt Street Pharmacy Custom Compounding (Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina). Randomization will be done by a licensed pharmacist who will keep a record of the blind and be available should unblinding be necessary.

Protocol document: