Seyed Ghafur Mousavi1, Mohammad Reza Sharbafchi2, Mehrdad Salehi2, Mohammad Peykanpour3, Naeemeh Karimian Sichani4, Mohammad Maracy5. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. me_salehi@med.mui.ac.ir. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 3. Department of Pharmaceutics, Psychosomatic Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 4. Department of Psychology, School of Psychology and Education Sciences, Isfahan University, Isfahan, Iran. 5. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Preclinical studies and early pilot clinical investigations have suggested that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may be useful in treatment of methamphetamine (METH) dependence. The present study evaluated whether NAC would suppress craving to the METH. METHODS: In a double-blind, controlled crossover clinical trial, 32 METH-dependent volunteers were chosen to receive either NAC (1200 mg/day) or placebo, randomly. They were intervened in two four-week sessions. During first session they received either 1200 mg/day of NAC (group A) or placebo (group B). After three days of washout period, next session started with the crossover intervention of the previous regimen. During these eight weeks, all participants received standardized, and Matrix Model of treatment. Craving was assessed using the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief (CCQ-Brief). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois, USA). RESULTS: In 23 subjects who completed the study, the mean score of CCQ-Brief reduced in four consecutive weeks with NAC treatment. The mean (SD) scores of carving in group A and B were 3.38 (1.16) and 5.96 (1.03), at the end of first session; and 4.57 (1.88) and 3.2 (0.86), at the end of the second session, respectively. Our findings indicate that the main effect was significant for NAC (P < 0.001). Across placebo and NAC conditions, only mild side effects were noted, and the number of subjects who reported side effects did not differ. CONCLUSION: The NAC showed good efficacy in suppressing METH craving, and may be a useful pharmacological treatment for METH dependency.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Preclinical studies and early pilot clinical investigations have suggested that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may be useful in treatment of methamphetamine (METH) dependence. The present study evaluated whether NAC would suppress craving to the METH. METHODS: In a double-blind, controlled crossover clinical trial, 32 METH-dependent volunteers were chosen to receive either NAC (1200 mg/day) or placebo, randomly. They were intervened in two four-week sessions. During first session they received either 1200 mg/day of NAC (group A) or placebo (group B). After three days of washout period, next session started with the crossover intervention of the previous regimen. During these eight weeks, all participants received standardized, and Matrix Model of treatment. Craving was assessed using the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief (CCQ-Brief). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois, USA). RESULTS: In 23 subjects who completed the study, the mean score of CCQ-Brief reduced in four consecutive weeks with NAC treatment. The mean (SD) scores of carving in group A and B were 3.38 (1.16) and 5.96 (1.03), at the end of first session; and 4.57 (1.88) and 3.2 (0.86), at the end of the second session, respectively. Our findings indicate that the main effect was significant for NAC (P < 0.001). Across placebo and NAC conditions, only mild side effects were noted, and the number of subjects who reported side effects did not differ. CONCLUSION: The NAC showed good efficacy in suppressing METH craving, and may be a useful pharmacological treatment for METH dependency.
Authors: B M Siemsen; C M Reichel; K C Leong; C Garcia-Keller; C D Gipson; S Spencer; J A McFaddin; K N Hooker; P W Kalivas; M D Scofield Journal: Neuroscience Date: 2019-03-26 Impact factor: 3.590
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Authors: Rebecca McKetin; Olivia M Dean; Alyna Turner; Peter J Kelly; Brendan Quinn; Dan I Lubman; Paul Dietze; Gregory Carter; Peter Higgs; Barbara Sinclair; David Reid; Amanda L Baker; Victoria Manning; Nina Te Pas; Tamsin Thomas; Ramez Bathish; Dayle K Raftery; Anna Wrobel; Lucy Saunders; Shalini Arunogiri; Frank Cordaro; Harry Hill; Scott Hall; Philip J Clare; Mohammadreza Mohebbi; Michael Berk Journal: EClinicalMedicine Date: 2021-07-13