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Brian Vastag

JAMA. 2001;285:2439.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Propranolol, long used to treat high blood pressure, reduced cocaine withdrawal symptoms in a recent double-blinded trial. The drug, a -blocker, appears to work by reducing symptoms of anxiety, common manifestations of withdrawal.

The researchers, who were supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, suggest that propranolol could help patients during the first critical weeks of recovery (Drug Alcohol Depend. 2001;63:69-78). In many treatment programs, the dropout rate during the first month is 50% or higher.

In the 8-week trial, 108 patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or propranolol. The treated group had lower withdrawal severity but otherwise did not differ from controls. However, in a secondary analysis of patients with the most severe symptoms, those taking propranolol stayed in treatment longer.

"The patients who come in with severe withdrawal symptoms generally are heavier users and tougher to treat," said author Kyle Kampman, MD, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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