Effects of isradipine on methamphetamine-induced changes in attentional and perceptual-motor skills of cognition

Bankole A. Johnson, John D. Roache, Nassima Ait-Daoud, Christopher Wallace, Lynda T. Wells, Yanmei Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rationale: While the effects of d-amphetamine in increasing performance have been established, there is a paucity of information on the effects of methamphetamine on cognition in drug-naive subjects, and no published information on the effects of intravenous methamphetamine administration in dependent individuals. The dihydropyridine-class calcium channel antagonist, isradipine, has been posited as a putative treatment to prevent methamphetamine-associated hypertensive crisis and its sequelae. Yet, isradipine's effects on cognitive performance in methamphetamine-dependent individuals are not known. Objective: Since individuals whose dependence on methamphetamine is attributable to the need to enhance performance may be loath to take a cognition-impairing medication, even for the treatment of life-threatening hypertensive crisis, it would be important to determine isradipine's effects on performance. Methods: We therefore examined in a blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design the cognitive effects of low and high doses of intravenous methamphetamine (15 mg and 30 mg, respectively) in both the presence and absence of isradipine. Results: Intravenous d-methamphetamine produced dose-dependent increases in attention, concentration, and psychomotor performance. Isradipine, both with and without methamphetamine, had a modest effect to decrease attention. Conclusion: Our results do not support the further testing of isradipine as a medication for improving the cognitive impairments that have been associated with chronic methamphetamine use.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)296-302
Number of pages7
JournalPsychopharmacology
Volume178
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2005

Keywords

  • Attention
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive performance
  • Concentration
  • Dopamine
  • Humans
  • Isradipine
  • Methamphetamine
  • Perceptual-motor function

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology

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