Effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine in Treating Cocaine Dependent Individuals - 1

Inclusion Criteria:

• Not seeking treatment for drugs of abuse
• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV diagnosis of cocaine dependence (not applicable for individuals enrolling as healthy controls)
• Positive urine drug screen test for cocaine (not applicable for individuals enrolling as healthy controls)
• Females must use adequate forms of contraception throughout the study
• Stable residence for the 30 days prior to enrollment
• No history of N-acetylcysteine within the 7 days prior to enrollment
• Nicotine smokers staying at the inpatient unit must use the nicotine patch during inpatient stay

Exclusion Criteria:

• Dependence on any psychoactive substance other than alcohol, nicotine, or marijuana; control subjects cannot be dependent on cocaine
• Need for medication detoxification for alcohol
• History of psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, dementia, and organic brain disorder
• Suicidal or homicidal behavior within the 30 days prior to enrollment
• History of psychotic symptoms, including those observed during cocaine use
• History of serious medical illness, including cardiovascular disease, angina, myocardial infarction, liver disease, and kidney disease
• History of neurologic, metabolic, neoplastic, nutritional, inflammatory, or endocrine disorders
• Court requirement to receive treatment
• Expecting elective surgery within the 5 weeks prior to enrollment
• Known hypersensitivity to N-acetylcysteine
• Use of antidepressants (such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclics), dopamine agonists, or psychotropic medications (such as anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, or psychostimulants) within the 14 days prior to enrollment
• Pregnant or breastfeeding
• History of asthma
• History of seizures
• Participation in treatment for cocaine abuse within the 30 days prior to enrollment
• Lactose intolerance