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CompletedNCT00136734Updated Apr 23, 2019

Methylphenidate Treatment for Cocaine Abuse and ADHD - 1

A Phase 1 interventional study of Methylphenidate and placebo in Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity and Cocaine-Related Disorders, sponsored by New York State Psychiatric Institute. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-04-23.

Sponsored by New York State Psychiatric Institute · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
124
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Many cocaine dependent individuals are also diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is currently approved to treat individuals diagnosed with ADHD. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of methylphenidate in treating ADHD symptoms in cocaine dependent individuals.

Read the detailed description

Methylphenidate (MPH) is commonly used to treat individuals diagnosed with ADHD. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of MPH in treating adult cocaine dependent individuals who are also diagnosed with ADHD.

Participants in this 14-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will be randomly assigned to receive either sustained-release MPH or placebo. All participants will receive individual cognitive behavioral therapy. The trial will last 14 weeks. It will include a 1-week placebo lead-in phase and a 2-week dose titration phase, followed by 11 weeks on a stable dose of MPH. During the titration phase, MPH will be given twice a day, starting at a dose of 10 mg/day. The dose will increase by 10 mg each day, until a final stable dose of 40 mg/day is reached. At this time, sustained-release MPH will be given as two 20 mg doses (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). Depending on a participant's tolerance of MPH, the dose will be increased to a maximum of 60 mg/day (40 mg in the morning and 20 mg in the afternoon). Participants who are unable to tolerate a dose of at least 40 mg/day of MPH will be discontinued from the study. Assessments of ADHD symptoms will be completed at weekly study visits. In addition, drug use assessments will also be completed and will include self-reports and urine toxicology tests.

02

Conditions studied

  • Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders

Keywords

  • ADHD
  • Cocaine dependence
  • treatment
  • methylphenidate
03

In context

Cocaine-Related Disorders

415 studies on the registry are indexed under Cocaine-Related Disorders; 12 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 124 is above the median of 60 across 312 interventional studies indexed under Cocaine-Related Disorders.

Browse Cocaine-Related Disorders studies →

Lead sponsor

New York State Psychiatric Institute is the lead sponsor of 425 studies on the registry; 26 are open to participants now.

Of its 50 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 45 (90%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Meets DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence
  • Meets DSM-IV criteria for persistent adult Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Meets DSM-IV criteria for current psychiatric disorders (other than ADHD or substance abuse) that requires a psychiatric intervention
  • Physiologically dependent on sedatives or alcohol, to the extent that medical attention is required during periods of abstinence or significant reduction in the amount of use
  • Exhibits suicidal or homicidal behavior within the two years prior to enrollment
  • Currently taking prescription psychotropic medication
  • Unstable medical condition (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes) that would make participation in the study hazardous
  • Known sensitivity to methylphenidate
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
124 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    1

    methylphenidate

    Drug: Methylphenidate

  • Placebo comparator
    2

    placebo

    Other: placebo

Interventions

  • DrugMethylphenidate
  • Otherplacebo

    placebo

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. ADHD symptom severity based on the ADHD rating scale score

    Time frame: measured weekly for the 14 weeks of the trial or length of study participation

  2. self reported cocaine use

    Time frame: recorded daily for the 14 weeks of the trial or the length of participation

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc.
    New York, New York 10032, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Levin FR, Evans SM, Brooks DJ, Garawi F. Treatment of cocaine dependent treatment seekers with adult ADHD: double-blind comparison of methylphenidate and placebo. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2007 Feb 23;87(1):20-9. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.07.004. Epub 2006 Aug 22. PubMed 16930863 ↗

Related links

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 23, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00136734
Lead sponsor
New York State Psychiatric Institute
Collaborators
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Responsible party
Frances R Levin (Director of Substance Use Disorder, New York State Psychiatric Institute) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 29, 2005
Start date
Apr 1998
Primary completion
Mar 2004
Completion
Mar 2004
Last update
Apr 23, 2019

Study contacts

Frances R Levin, M.D.
principal investigator · Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc.

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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