Community Health Care

Researchers at the School of Medicine, Yale University, U.S., tested an experimental vaccine with 55 cocaine addicts during a clinical trial that lasted 24 weeks.
The study results were published in Archives of General Psychiatry (Archives of General Psychiatry.) The scientists found that 38% of participants failed to reach adequate levels of antibodies to help feeling a sense of euphoria it produces the drug.

The vaccine works by “wrapping” of cocaine that has no effects on the brain, heart or other organ, “” this is the first successful controlled trial of a vaccine against cocaine, say scientists.

According to previous studies on animals and humans, high levels of anti-cocaine antibodies in the blood can prevent addicts experience that feeling.

However, the researchers noted that those with the vaccine achieved high antibody levels, only maintained for two months, so it would need repeat injections.

According to investigators, the effects of high antibody levels began to be seen until the eighth week of the test. Taking into account that on average, a patient comes to treatment after six to eight years of drug abuse, perhaps it will take about two years of vaccines, scientists say.

In the research, recruited 115 individuals dependent on cocaine and opioids (like morphine or heroin) and were randomly selected to receive five injections of the active vaccine or five a sham injections for 12 weeks.

Of the 55 individuals who completed the trial, 21 (38%) achieved antibody levels of 43 micrograms per milliliter or more. Those who received the antibody level had significantly more urine samples clean of cocaine (45%) between weeks nine and 16 of the study than those with lower levels of antibodies and those receiving placebo treatment.

As the researchers note, the proportion of participants who reduced their cocaine use in half was significantly higher among those who received the active vaccine (53%) compared with the placebo group (23%).

Scientists say that the adverse effects associated with the vaccine were mild to moderate.
The symptom that most frequently complained about the participants was hardening and pain at the injection site.

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