Inhibition of cocaine self-administration by fluoxetine or D-fenfluramine combined with phentermine

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2002 Jan-Feb;71(1-2):197-204. doi: 10.1016/s0091-3057(01)00657-8.

Abstract

Instrumental responding for intravenous cocaine in rats at 85% of free-feeding weight was significantly decreased 50% by D-fenfluramine plus phentermine (D-Fen/Phen, 5 mg/kg of each for 1 day). A similar effect was obtained in normal-weight rats self-administering a cocaine-heroin mixture. Treating normal-weight animals with fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) for 4 days also significantly decreased cocaine self-administration by half, and then adding phentermine caused an additional decrease in cocaine intake. Animals that were well trained to self-administer drug did not self-administer intravenous D-Fen/Phen or Flu/Phen. The present results confirm that serotonergic drugs can decrease cocaine, or cocaine/heroin, self-administration in rats, and that phentermine adds to the effect. Based on related research with the same dose of D-Fen/Phen, it is suggested that effectiveness in reducing cocaine reinforcement is due in part to a satiating effect in which dopamine and acetylcholine are released in the nucleus accumbens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Appetite Depressants / administration & dosage*
  • Appetite Depressants / therapeutic use
  • Behavior, Addictive / prevention & control
  • Cocaine / administration & dosage*
  • Cocaine / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Fenfluramine / administration & dosage*
  • Fenfluramine / therapeutic use
  • Fluoxetine / administration & dosage*
  • Fluoxetine / therapeutic use
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / administration & dosage*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Self Administration / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Appetite Depressants
  • Cocaine
  • Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors
  • Fenfluramine
  • Fluoxetine
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors