Promising new vaccine offers hope of breaking cocaine addiction
www.euronews.com
The vaccine is designed to help produce anti-cocaine antibodies in the body of a person who is chemically dependent on the substance.

Scientists in Brazil are developing the first vaccine that could help break cocaine addiction::The vaccine is designed to help produce anti-cocaine antibodies in the body of a person who is chemically dependent on the substance.

  • very_well_lost@lemmy.worldEnglish
    31·
    8 months ago

    There’s a similar therapy used sometimes with alcoholics – although in that case, the drug (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disulfiram) doesn’t just block the effects of intoxication, it makes the experience intensely miserable (sometimes even to the point of being life-threatening).

    Disulfiram can be quite successful when used correctly, but the success of the treatment largely depends on the patient’s willingness to continue the therapy. I imagine the same will apply with this vaccine.

    • ShunkW@lemmy.worldEnglish
      10·
      8 months ago

      There are two less extreme medications for alcohol abuse prevention. Naltrexone -also used for opiate cravings, and Campril. Naltrexone also blocks effects of alcohol without making you violently ill, but speaking from experience, enough alcohol can overcome the effect.

      I can’t speak to Campril much because it gave me horrible side effects and I had to stop taking it pretty much immediately.

    • pete_the_cat@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      8 months ago

      IIRC one of the anti-opiate medicines does the same thing. Any time you consume opiates you get ridiculously sick to the point where it’s just not worth it.