Impact of family history of alcoholism on cocaine-induced subjective effects and pharmacokinetic profile

Rationale: The importance of genetic factors in the development of alcoholism has been demonstrated repeatedly. However, the impact of a family history of alcoholism on the development of other drug use has been less thoroughly studied. Objective: The present study was conducted to investigate whether individuals with a positive family history of alcoholism (FHP) differ from individuals without a history (FHN) in their pharmacokinetic profile, subjective and physiological response to an acute intranasal dose of cocaine (0.9 mg/kg). Methods: Nine FHP and nine FHN male occasional cocaine users provided informed consent and participated in this double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-visit study. Responses to cocaine were assessed via a joystick device, the Addiction Research Center Inventory, visual analog scales and heart rate. Plasma concentrations of cocaine and its metabolites, benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methylester also were measured. Results: There were no significant differences between FHP and FHN subjects in subjective reports of intoxication, physiologic responses or plasma cocaine and benzoylecgonine concentrations following cocaine administration. Plasma levels of the cocaine metabolite ecgonine methylester were significantly higher in FHP subjects from 50 to 120 min post-cocaine administration compared to FHN subjects. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that family history of alcoholism does not appear to influence the behavioral and physiological responses to acute cocaine administration, but that some aspects of cocaine metabolism may be different between the two groups.