The Efficacy of N-Acetylcysteine in the Treatment of Methamphetamine Dependence: A Double-Blind Controlled, Crossover Study Pubmed



Mousavi SG¹ ; Sharbafchi MR¹ ; Salehi M¹ ; Peykanpour M² ; Sichani NK³ ; Maracy M⁴ Show Affiliations
Source: Archives of Iranian Medicine Published:2015

Abstract

Objective: Preclinical studies and early pilot clinical investigations have suggested that N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may be useful in treatment of methamphetamine (METH) dependence. The present study evaluated whether NAC would suppress craving to the METH.; Results: In 23 subjects who completed the study, the mean score of CCQ-Brief reduced in four consecutive weeks with NAC treatment. The mean (SD) scores of carving in group A and B were 3.38 (1.16) and 5.96 (1.03), at the end of first session; and 4.57 (1.88) and 3.2 (0.86), at the end of the second session, respectively. Our findings indicate that the main effect was significant for NAC (P < 0.001). Across placebo and NAC conditions, only mild side effects were noted, and the number of subjects who reported side effects did not differ.; Methods: In a double-blind, controlled crossover clinical trial, 32 METH-dependent volunteers were chosen to receive either NAC (1200 mg/day) or placebo, randomly. They were intervened in two four-week sessions. During first session they received either 1200 mg/day of NAC (group A) or placebo (group B). After three days of washout period, next session started with the crossover intervention of the previous regimen. During these eight weeks, all participants received standardized, and Matrix Model of treatment. Craving was assessed using the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire-Brief (CCQ-Brief). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois, USA).; Conclusion: The NAC showed good efficacy in suppressing METH craving, and may be a useful pharmacological treatment for METH dependency. © 2015, Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved.