Recovering cocaine addicts who have ADHD and may benefit from treatment with Wellbutrin (bupropion), according to doctors at Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry. Research on Wellbutrin appeared show that they atypical antidepressant medication was as effective for the treatment of adult ADHD as methylphenidate.
The connection between ADHD and cocaine use is well established. Cocaine users are more than 4 times as likely to have ADHD than those who don't use the drug. Doctors theorize that many cocaine users are actually people with undiagnosed cases of ADHD who are attempting to self-medicate. However, the dangers associated with cocaine — heart attack, respiratory failure, stroke, seizure, addiction and death — outweigh any possible benefits of the drug.
Although methylphenidate (Ritalin) has been shown to be safe and effective for cocaine users who begin treatment for ADHD and are being monitored by their physician, there are still some concerns about giving an abusable medication to a recovering addict.
Addicts with ADHD who participated in the study reported a significant decrease in their craving for cocaine and cocaine use. Drug tests that were administered during the 12-week study confirmed a significant decline in the use of cocaine. Patients also reported significant reductions in attention difficulties, hyperactivity and impulsivity. In addition to Wellbutrin, all patients also received weekly individual standardized relapse prevention therapy.
Earlier studies on Wellbutrin have shown it to be an effective treatment alternative for adults with ADHD.
The full report appears in the Journal of Addictive Diseases.
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