Clinical Efficacy of Sertraline Augmented With Gabapentin in Depressed, Recently Abstinent Cocaine-dependent Humans

Sertraline hydrochloride (200 mg/day) will be administered once daily. While subjects are at RCA-NLR they initially receive 50 mg/day of sertraline. This dose is gradually increased over a 3-week period until subjects receive 200 mg. When subjects are transferred to the outpatient program, they will be administered capsules once weekly, with take-home doses given in blister packs to take once a day for the rest of the week.

Placebo (cellulose or lactose) administered twice per day for 12 weeks.

Gabapentin (Neurontin; Parke-Davis; 1200 mg/day) will be administered twice daily. Initially, patients will receive 200 mg twice daily on days 1-5, 400 mg twice daily on days 6-10, then 600 mg twice daily on days 11 on. Subjects are then maintained on this dose for the duration of the trial, unless side-effects are too severe, in which case the dose of gabapentin is decreased to no less 800 mg/day. If symptoms persist, subjects' participation would then be terminated.