Abstract
Previous data suggest that buprenorphine may decrease cocaine abuse. The authors investigated the influence of buprenorphine on cocaine effects in volunteer opioid and cocaine abusers. Results from cocaine challenge sessions (40 mg iv) before and during buprenorphine treatment (8 mg/day sublingual) and from weekly outpatient reports provided no evidence that buprenorphine attenuated the effects of cocaine; in fact, trends suggested an enhancement of cocaine effects. The combination of cocaine and buprenorphine did not produce adverse effects, but illicit opioid use decreased during treatment with buprenorphine. These results support further study of buprenorphine as a treatment for opioid abuse, but they do not suggest efficacy against cocaine abuse.