Bromocriptine and amantadine in cocaine detoxification

The effects of bromocriptine and amantadine in treating cocaine withdrawal were compared. Withdrawal symptoms are thought to be due to central dopamine depletion. Both bromocriptine and amantadine are dopamine agonists previously reported to diminish withdrawal symptoms. Thirty subjects were withdrawn for 30 days with amantadine, bromocriptine, or placebo. Bromocriptine and amantadine were more effective than placebo for 15 days. Amantadine's effectiveness then declined so that it was no more effective than placebo by experiment's end. Bromocriptine was significantly more effective than both throughout the latter phase of the study. Amantadine's decline in effectiveness is hypothesized to be due to stimulation of dopamine release.