Effects of pergolide on intravenous cocaine self-administration in men and women.

12 inpatient volunteers (5 females; all Ss aged 30–45 yrs), who reported spending an average of $170/wk on cocaine, received pergolide (0.05 mg BID) for 8 days and placebo for 8 days, with drug order balanced across Ss. Self-administration sessions occurred on the last 4 days of maintenance on each medication. A modified 7-trial progressive ratio choice procedure (0, 8, 16, 32 mg/70 kg cocaine vs $5) was utilized, with sessions consisting of: (1) 2 sample trials, where Ss responded to receive the dose and tokens available that day, and (2) 5 choice trials, where Ss chose between the available dose and tokens. Following each trial, the response requirement for the chosen option increased by 400. Maintenance on pergolide (1) decreased cocaine-induced increases in ratings of "High," "Stimulated," cocaine "Potency," estimates of street value, and heart rate, (2) increased ratings of "I want cocaine," and (3) had no effect on cocaine self-administration. The increased desire to use cocaine during pergolide maintenance suggests that it has limited treatment utility at this dose, but given the attenuation of cocaine's subjective and cardiovascular effects, research on a wider range of pergolide doses on cocaine self-administration and subjective effects is warranted. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)