Brain drug tested to curb cocaine cravings in opioid patients

This small, early-stage study tested whether adding a low dose of the medication cariprazine to standard buprenorphine treatment could help people with both opioid and cocaine addiction use less cocaine. About 26 participants who were already stable on buprenorphine and not using cocaine at the start were randomly assigned to take either cariprazine or a placebo pill daily for 8 weeks. Researchers tracked cocaine use through urine tests and also used brain scans in some participants to see how the medication might affect brain activity related to cravings and self-control.