Levamisole tainted cocaine: an emerging health issue

Ananthan, Dinesh; Shah, Sonali; Koya, Hayas Haseer; Patel, Arpan; Graziano, Stephen L.

doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcu028

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

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“…One could be prior immune recognition of cocaine protein adducts [43] resulting in T-cell-independent generation of anticocaine IgM antibody responses that prevent development of IgG responses to vaccination [41]. Another could be immunosuppression by cocaine itself [44] or the influence of contaminants such as levamisole [45,46] in drugs available on the street. We also recognize that many genes involved in regulating immune responses can influence the quantity and quality of antibody produced.…”

Section: Cocaine Vaccine Trialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The future potential for cocaine vaccines

Orson

Wang

Brimijoin

et al. 2014

Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy

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Introduction Addiction to cocaine is a major problem around the world, but especially in developed countries where the combination of wealth and user demand has created terrible social problems. Although only some users become truly addicted, those who are often succumb to a downward spiral in their lives from which it is very difficult to escape. From the medical perspective, the lack of effective and safe, non-addictive therapeutics has instigated efforts to develop alternative approaches for treatment, including anticocaine vaccines designed to block cocaine’s pharmacodynamic effects. Areas covered This paper discusses the implications of cocaine pharmacokinetics for robust vaccine antibody responses, the results of human vaccine clinical trials, new developments in animal models for vaccine evaluation, alternative vaccine formulations and complementary therapy to enhance anticocaine effectiveness. Expert opinion Robust anti-cocaine antibody responses are required for benefit to cocaine abusers, but since any reasonably achievable antibody level can be overcome with higher drug doses, sufficient motivation to discontinue use is also essential so that the relative barrier to cocaine effects will be appropriate for each individual. Combining a vaccine with achievable levels of an enzyme to hydrolyze cocaine to inactive metabolites, however, may substantially increase the blockade and improve treatment outcomes.

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