Cocaine is a stimulant that increases levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, or a sort of chemical messenger, that helps control the reward and pleasure centers in the brain. It also helps to regulate emotional responses, allows us to see things as rewards, and encourages us to seek out those rewards. Cocaine seizes control of these circuits, which partly explains why it’s so addictive – the brain views cocaine as a reward and makes us want to repeat the experience. The drug causes a buildup of dopamine, which the brain eventually adapts to, leading us to take more in order to reach the same high. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, people treated for drug addiction have a relapse rate between 40 percent and 60 percent, which is roughly equal to the relapse rates for chronic illnesses such as asthma, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently published a paper examining the effects of long-term drug use in the brain and how the brain behaves during a period of abstinence. Their theory was that the same circuits in the brain that cause us to seek food might also play a role in the desire to take drugs. Following that hypothesis, they believed that certain drugs that treat diabetes should have an effect on drug cravings. They eventually found that certain drugs that help balance out food intake and blood glucose levels could also decrease the desire to use cocaine. These drugs activate receptors for a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1.
The scientists studied the blood of rats that had been given cocaine and found that after 21 days levels of the GLP-1 hormone had decreased. The drugs that activate GLP-1 are called receptor agonists, and one in particular, called Exendin-4, is already approved by the FDA and in use as a diabetes medication. The rats were allowed to go through withdrawal and then reintroduced to cocaine, at which point they could dose themselves at will. They were also exposed to certain stimuli when cocaine was administered, such as a flashing light. For this second round, they were pretreated with Exendin-4. The rats not only showed a significant decrease in cravings and drug-seeking behavior, but they did not respond to the stimuli. They were also less likely to relapse during withdrawal. This means that Exendin-4 has the potential to not only block the effects of taking cocaine but to render the cues that might lead to relapse ineffective.
It’s particularly promising that relatively low doses of Exendin-4 were needed to curb drug cravings, because when it’s used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, nausea and vomiting are extremely common at a normal dose.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
