Abstract
Twelve young adults meeting DSM-III-R criteria for cocaine dependence were administered single oral dose of the dopamine agonist bromocriptine and the noradrenergic tricyclic desipramine within 72 hours of hospital admission using a double-blind, random assignment, crossover design. Self-ratings of drug craving, depressed mood, and energy showed reduced craving after administration of both medications, but improvement in depressed mood and energy only after bromocriptine. Implications or these findings for understanding the neuro-chemistry of cocaine dependence, as well as for treatment of cocaine withdrawal in the clinical setting are discussed.