Lisuride reduces psychomotor retardation during withdrawal from chronic intravenous amphetamine self-administration in rats

Abstract

Withdrawal from chronic use of psychostimulant drugs in tomans induces a clinical syndrome characterized by fatigue, psychomotor depression, anhedonia, and disturbances of sleep. Spontaneous locomotor activity and CIepsy were assessed in rats during withdrawal from a rhedule of intravenous self-administration of high doses Amphetamine. At 2 and 4 days after cessation of Imphetamine self-administration, rats showed a state of psychomotor retardation as measured by reduction of ¡locomotor activity and increased catalepsy. In search of a psycide pharmacologic means of intervention for such behavioral changes, the effect of repeated treatment with the nonaddictive ergot derivative lisuride during the withdrawal phase was evaluated. At a dose devoid of any effects on locomotor activity, lisuride completely prevented the reduction in locomotor activity and the increase in catalepsy produced by amphetamine withdrawal. These results suggest the need for further studies on lisuride as a possible novel treatment during withdrawal from psychostimulant drugs in humans. © 1993 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.