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Can a brain ZAP and a common supplement curb cocaine cravings?

NCT ID NCT04155632

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed This study
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether combining a brain stimulation technique called theta burst stimulation (TBS) with the medication N-acetylcysteine (NAC) could reduce cocaine cravings and brain responses to cocaine-related images. Thirty-two adults with cocaine use disorder participated. Researchers measured changes in brain activity and self-reported cravings before and after the treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and theta burst stimulation (TBS)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a new treatment approach to help people with cocaine use disorder manage cravings.
What could go wrong
This was a small, early-phase study with only 32 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The effects may be modest or not last long.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Phase 2

Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.

Participants

32 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Dec 2020

Finished

Mar 2023

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 to 65 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1\. Age 18-65 2. English fluency 4. Meet criteria for cocaine use disorder (CUD), as determined by DSM-V criteria, using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-V. 5\. Enrolled in an intensive outpatient treatment program (MUSC Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs Intensive Outpatient Program (CDAP-IOP) or currently engaged in treatment for substance related problems. 6\. Able to read and understand questionnaires and informed consent 7. Lives within 50 miles of the study site. 8. Is not at elevated risk of seizure (i.e., does not have a history of seizures, is not currently prescribed medications known to lower seizure threshold) 9. Does not have metal objects in the head/neck. 10. Does not have a history of traumatic brain injury, including a head injury that resulted in hospitalization, loss of consciousness for more than 10 minutes, or having ever been informed that they have an epidural, subdural, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. 11\. Does not have a history of claustrophobia leading to significant clinical anxiety symptoms. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Past head injury or primary neurological disorder associated with MRI abnormalities, including dementia, MCI, brain tumors, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, or demyelinating diseases 2. Any physical or intellectual disability affecting completion of assessments 3. Any contraindication to MRI 4. Current or past psychosis 5. ECT in last 6 months 6. Among females, pregnancy at screening will be exclusionary. Females of child bearing potential must agree to undergo a pregnancy test 72 hours prior to the fMRI scanning session and regularly before and during the medication trial. They must further agree to notify the study physician or PA if they become pregnant during the study. 7. Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA-Ar) scale will be used to assess alcohol withdrawal. Individuals with CIWA \> 8 will be excluded. 8. Individuals with unstable medical illness (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction) 9. Has current suicidal ideation or homicidal ideation. 10. Has the need for maintenance or acute treatment with any psychoactive medication including anti-seizure medications and medications for ADHD 11. Suffers from chronic migraines 12. Any physical or intellectual disability affecting completion of assessments

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cocaine dependence Cocaine-Related Disorders

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Medical University of South Carolina

    Charleston, South Carolina, 29425, United States

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