N-Acetylcysteine for Cocaine Dependence

Written By Graig Alpert
N-Acetylcysteine may help with cocaine cravings

A 2020 study found that 1200mg of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) taken three times daily significantly reduced cocaine-seeking behavior compared to placebo over 1 week. Another study showed that people taking NAC were significantly more likely to remain abstinent from cocaine compared to those taking placebo. NAC may cause nausea among other side effects.

Woodcock EA, Lundahl LH, Khatib D, Stanley JA, Greenwald MK. N-acetylcysteine reduces cocaine-seeking behavior and anterior cingulate glutamate/glutamine levels among cocaine-dependent individuals. Addict Biol. 2021 Mar;26(2):e12900. doi: 10.1111/adb.12900. Epub 2020 Mar 24. PMID: 32212237; PMCID: PMC10369173.

LaRowe SD, Kalivas PW, Nicholas JS, Randall PK, Mardikian PN, Malcolm RJ. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial of N-acetylcysteine in the treatment of cocaine dependence. Am J Addict. 2013 Sep-Oct;22(5):443-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2013.12034.x. Epub 2013 May 15. PMID: 23952889; PMCID: PMC4348575.

Graig Alpert
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