Intranasal Oxytocin Shows Tolerability in Patients with Co-Occurring Cocaine and Opioid Use Disorders

Stimulant Use Disorder (SUD), particularly cocaine use, and co-occurring Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) present significant treatment challenges, often leading to high relapse rates despite standard opioid replacement therapies like methadone. Current pharmacological treatments for cocaine use disorder are severely limited, creating a critical need for novel interventions. Oxytocin, a social neuropeptide, has shown promise in animal models by reducing drug tolerance, withdrawal, and self-administration for various addictive substances, suggesting its potential to address the complex behavioral aspects of co-occurring SUD and OUD.

This was a pilot feasibility study (NCT03016598) assessing the tolerability of chronic administration of intranasal oxytocin in patients receiving methadone for Opioid Use Disorder who were actively using cocaine. The trial was a 6-week study, enrolling 42 participants. The primary objective was to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin on reducing stimulant use, enhancing therapeutic engagement, and decreasing susceptibility to stress-induced relapse. Specific dosing and frequency were not detailed in the provided abstract, but it involved "chronic administration."

The abstract for this pilot feasibility study primarily outlines its design and objectives rather than presenting specific quantitative results. It aimed to assess the tolerability of chronic intranasal oxytocin administration and investigate its effects on reducing stimulant use, enhancing therapeutic engagement, and mitigating stress-induced relapse in 42 participants with co-occurring Stimulant Use Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder. While the study was completed (NCT03016598), the provided summary does not detail the observed tolerability profile or any statistically significant changes in stimulant use or relapse susceptibility. Therefore, no specific numerical findings, p-values, or effect sizes can be reported from this abstract.

The study's main objective was to assess the tolerability of intranasal oxytocin in a challenging patient population, setting the stage for future efficacy trials.