Cocaine pharmacology and current pharmacotherapies for its abuse

Bioorg Med Chem. 2004 Oct 1;12(19):5019-30. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2004.06.018.

Abstract

Cocaine abuse continues to be prevalent and effective therapies for cocaine craving and addiction remain elusive. In the last decade immunopharmacotherapy has been proposed as a promising means to alleviate this illness. By using the organism's natural immune response, an anti-cocaine vaccine promotes the production of cocaine-specific antibodies that sequester the drug before their passage into the brain, where it exerts its reinforcing and thus addictive effects. A series of studies demonstrating the cocaine-blocking properties of various immunogenic conjugates will be reviewed in the context of the neuropsychopharmacological profile of the drug.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / chemistry
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / chemistry
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Cocaine / immunology
  • Cocaine / pharmacology*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Dopamine Agents / chemistry
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Haptens / chemistry
  • Haptens / therapeutic use
  • Humans

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Dopamine Agents
  • Haptens
  • Cocaine