Open-label pilot study of bupropion plus bromocriptine for treatment of cocaine dependence

Combinations of medications are often used in neuropsychiatry to enhance treatment efficacy. This 8-week, open-label study tested the combination of bupropion (less than or equal to300 mg) and bromocriptine (less than or equal to7.5 mg) daily in 34 cocaine-dependent (DSM-IIIR) outpatients also receiving weekly individual counseling. The first 18 subjects spent one week at maximum dose; the next 16 spent three weeks. Both groups showed significant reductions in self-reported cocaine use, with no significant change in proportion of urine toxicology tests positive for cocaine. There were no significant differences in outcome between groups. These results suggest that the combination of bupropion and bromocriptine is safe in cocaine addicts, but provide ambiguous evidence of its efficacy.