Evaluation and Treatment of Patients Who Abuse Methamphetamine or Cocaine
Mark S. Gold, MD, Washington University
There are no FDA-approved medications or advancement in treatment for cocaine overdose—primary treatment is still ice baths. When assessing cocaine use, consider the route of ingestion and duration of use, which influence severity. Stimulants, whether methamphetamine or cocaine, cause changes in dopamine that are difficult to reverse. Substitute stimulants, such as modafinil, or vaccines have been proposed for cocaine abuse, but the evidence is not robust. Methamphetamine produces a schizophrenia-like illness, but antipsychotics are not effective. Naltrexone and bupropion showed some efficacy but was not statistically significant. There are no effective treatments for overdose or relapse prevention other than traditional group and residential treatment approaches.