PPAR-gamma agonist pioglitazone modifies craving intensity and brain white matter integrity in patients with primary cocaine use disorder: a double-blind randomized controlled pilot trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Pioglitazone (PIO), a potent agonist of PPAR-gamma, is a promising candidate treatment for cocaine use disorder (CUD). We tested the effects of PIO on targeted mechanisms relevant to CUD: cocaine craving and brain white matter (WM) integrity. Feasibility, medication compliance and tolerability were evaluated.

Design

Two-arm double-blind randomized controlled proof-of-concept pilot trial of PIO or placebo (PLC).

Setting

Single-site out-patient treatment research clinic in Houston, TX, USA.

Participants

Thirty treatment-seeking adults, 18 to 60 years old, with CUD. Eighteen participants (8 = PIO; 10 = PLC) completed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of WM integrity at pre-/post-treatment.

Intervention

Study medication was dispensed at thri

SUBMITTER: Schmitz JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5593771 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature