LIDOLidocaine Infusion for Reduced Cocaine Craving and Relapse

This clinical trial focuses on finding a potential treatment for cocaine dependence, a condition that currently lacks effective pharmacological interventions. The study aims to disrupt the neural processes associated with cue-related memories, which are memories linked to drug use that can trigger craving and relapse. The treatment being tested is Lidocaine, an FDA-approved medication that is typically used as a local anesthetic. Lidocaine has been found to inhibit certain molecular processes that are required for memory reconsolidation, and it's hoped that it could help reduce the potency of cue-related memories, thereby decreasing craving and the likelihood of relapse in individuals with cocaine dependence. Participants in this study will receive either Lidocaine or a placebo (saline solution) after being exposed to cues that induce craving. The study will measure the intensity of cocaine craving 7 days after the administration of Lidocaine or saline, using a visual analog scale based on questions from the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire. Additionally, various physiological responses such as blood pressure, electromyography (EMG), galvanic skin response (GSR), and heart rate will be measured during this period. If the study's hypotheses are correct, Lidocaine could potentially reduce cue-induced craving and subsequent cocaine use, offering a novel approach to cocaine addiction treatment.