Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that Ritalin, a drug commonly prescribed for ADHD patients, can be used for cocaine addiction treatment as it improves the brain's functioning.
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that Ritalin, a drug commonly prescribed for ADHD patients can be used for cocaine addiction treatment. The drug, scientifically known as methylphenidate, modifies connectivity in certain brain circuits that underlie self-control and craving among cocaine-addicted individuals.
Previously studies have proved that methylphenidate improves the brain functions in cocaine users, especially when they are performing cognitive tasks like ignoring distracting and distressing words and dealing with cognitive conflicts. Methylphenidate works in a similar way to cocaine and increases dopamine activity in the brain. However, when administered orally, it takes longer to produce the desired effect, making it less prone to addiction and usage abuse.
"Orally administered methylphenidate increases dopamine in the brain, similar to cocaine, but without the strong addictive properties," said Rita Goldstein, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai, who led the research while at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in New York in a press statement. "We wanted to determine whether such substitutive properties, which are helpful in other replacement therapies such as using nicotine gum instead of smoking cigarettes or methadone instead of heroin, would play a role in enhancing brain connectivity between regions of potential importance for intervention in cocaine addiction."
The study looked at 18 cocaine addicted participants. They were randomly divided into two groups. One received an oral dose of methylphenidate and the other a placebo. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to measure the strength of connectivity in their brain circuits, which causes addiction to drugs. The participants' level of addiction was also measured before receiving the dose so that researchers could see if the dose affected this level in any way.
Researchers found that methylphenidate decreased connectivity between areas of the brain that leads to addiction by compulsive drug seeking and craving. The results also revealed that methylphenidate strengthened connectivity between several brain regions involved in regulating emotions and exerting control over behaviors.
