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NATIONAL METHAMPHETAMINE TRAINING & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
Medicinal meth treatment remains elusive
Since methamphetamine's arrival on the main stage of drug
abuse, treatment professionals have tried to develop
medications that could help rid addicts of their cravings and
help them recover normal brain function quickly.
So far the search has been rewarded with small successes
but no major breakthroughs.
Early meth treatments called for the use of anti-psychosis
medications such as Haldol to help stabilize patients before
they began abstinence treatment.
Meth addiction, however, is a multi-faceted problem and
cravings continue in addicts for years.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is investigating
dozens of compounds in the hope that one or a combination
of them can help meth addicts kick their habit.
Some of the medications NIDA currently has under development for treating meth abuse are:
Vigabatrin -- recent tests in animals has shown the drug to be effective in blocking drug-seeking
behavior, giving scientists hope that it may cut down relapses in humans. More information.
Bupropion -- an antidepressant that inhibits the uptake of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. This property may make bupropion useful for treating methamphetamine addiction as
well as the depression that is exhibited by many drug abusers.
Sertraline -- an antidepressant that blocks uptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is also affected by methamphetamine. This property may make sertraline potentially useful for treating methamphetamine addiction as well as the depression that is exhibited by many drug abusers.
Lobeline -- a compound that affects the dopamine and nicotine systems in brain neurons and reduces methamphetamine self-administration in rats. More information
Aripiprazole -- a medication recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating schizophrenia, which acts on dopamine receptors and may help reducing the stimulant effects of methamphetamine as well as being useful for relapse prevention. Aripiprazole has also been shown to improve cognition in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting another potential benefit of the drug. More information
Carvediol, Clonidine, Atomoxetine, and Prazosin -- medications that affect the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine, which also have a role in the euphoric, motor activating, and rewarding effects of stimulants. These medications are already approved for clinical use, have generally well-understood mechanisms or action, are safe, and have been the subject of animal or clinical studies that suggest their potential for use in treating addiction to amphetamine/methamphetamine. More information: Carvediol, Clonidine, Atomoxetine, Prazosin
Modafinil -- a novel non-amphetamine stimulant medication approved by the FDA for treating narcolepsy and currently under study for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Modafinil is being considered for treating methamphetamine addiction and its consequences because: 1) its actions as a stimulant may decrease craving and methamphetamine seeking; 2) it has low abuse potential and does not seem to produce addiction; 3) it may improve concentration, daytime alertness and cognitive functions; 4) it may have antidepressant properties; and 5) the effects of modafinil are long-lasting and persist for as long as 4 months after treatment. More information
Perindopril -- a medication currently used to treat hypertension. In animals, perindopril has been shown to increase dopamine levels in the brain and reduce neurotoxicity to the dopamine system. NIDA is conducting a human laboratory study to determine whether oral perindopril can be safely administered to patients taking methamphetamine to prepare for an outpatient-based clinical trial that would assess the ability of perindopril to prevent relapse to drug use in treatment- seeking methamphetamine addicted individuals. More information
Rivastigmine -- a medication approved by the FDA to treat Alzheimer's dementia due to its cognitive enhancing properties. Amphetamine and methamphetamine addiction have been associated with neurocognitive deficits, both immediately after withdrawal and after long-term abstinence. A medication that is effective at reducing these neurocognitive deficits may assist individuals in recovery to obtain more benefit from counseling strategies and facilitate behavioral change. More informaton
Topiramate -- a medication that acts on the neurotransmitter systems GABA and glutamate and is currently used to treat epilepsy. It has been hypothesized that topiramate will be associated with decreased dopamine release via its actions on the GABA and glutamate systems. More information
Baclofen -- a compound that reduces the release of a variety of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system through its actions on the GABA neurotransmitter system and has been shown to decrease self-administration of cocaine and methamphetamine in animals. More information
"Meth Inside Out"
(from UCLA Intigrated Substance Abuse Program)
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SEARCH CONTINUES: More than 40 drugs are being tested for use in meth treatment.
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PHARMACOLOGY
Recovery / Treatment
Recovery / Treatment