Behavioral pharmacological similarities between methylphenidate and cocaine in cocaine abusers

Craig R. Rush, Robert W. Baker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

Six human participants with recent histories of cocaine use were trained to discriminate 200 mg oral cocaine hydrochloride. A range of doses of oral cocaine (50-300 mg), methylphenidate (15-90 mg), triazolam (0.125-0.75 mg), and placebo were then tested to determine whether they shared discriminative-stimulus and participant-rated effects with 200 mg cocaine. Cocaine and methylphenidate dose-dependently increased cocaine-appropriate responding, produced prototypical stimulant-like participant-rated drug effects (e.g., increased participant ratings of Drug Liking), and increased heart rate and blood pressure. Triazolam produced low levels of cocaine-appropriate responding and impaired performance. Thus, consistent with previous studies, humans can reliably discriminate oral cocaine. Consistent with in vivo behavioral neuropharmacological data, the discriminative-stimulus, participantrated, and physiological effects of oral cocaine and methylphenidate were similar.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)59-73
Number of pages15
JournalExperimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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