Conditions: Cocaine Dependence
Keywords: Cocaine Dependence Substance Related Disorders genotype
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 96
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Doxazosin, an alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, may play an important role in cocaine addiction in humans. This study will evaluate to what extent the prospective screening for catecholamine related polymorphisms for alpha 1 NE receptor/transporter, COMT and DBH as main targets predict the treatment efficacy of doxazosin for cocaine-using behavior.

Detailed description:
The NE system, especially the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor, may play an important role in cocaine addiction in humans. The results of this study will provide medical safety data on the duration of the induction schedule that will be optimal for attaining our target dose of 8 mg doxazosin daily and will guide future pharmacotherapy trials using Doxazosin or related alpha 1 receptor antagonists for cocaine addiction.

This 16-week double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial will provide treatment for 100 cocaine-dependent patients and includes a 13 week medication trial (weeks 1-13) and up to 2 week washout period(weeks 14-15). Qualifying subjects will be randomized to receive Doxazosin 8 mg/day, or placebo during the study participation.

Subjects will be receiving 1 mg study medication/placebo capsules at week 1, with 4mg/week induction rate for weeks, according to their randomized assignments, and are maintained on these agents through week 13. At the end of the study (weeks 14-15), participants will undergo discontinuation from active/placebo medication over a 2-week period. Subjects who wish to be transferred to an appropriate treatment program or treatment-research program will be helped with referral during the 2 week period (weeks 14-15).

Arms:
arm 1: Doxazosin is a long-acting and selective alpha 1-NE blocker, which inhibits the binding of norepinephrine to alpha receptors in the autonomic nervous system. arm 2: Matched placebo daily dosing.

Interventions: intervention 1: Doxazosin intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Doxazosin is initiated at 4 mg/wk, and titrated up to a maximum of 8 mg/day over approximately 2 weeks. Participants will be maintained on 6mg-8mg daily dosing until week 13. The subjects will undergo the discontinuation from the study medication during weeks 14 -15. intervention 2: Matched placebo daily dosing

Protocol document: