Desipramine treatment for cocaine dependence in buprenorphine- or methadone-treated patients: Baseline urine results as predictor of response

The prognostic importance of baseline urines for cocaine was examined in a randomized, placebo-controlled, twelve-week clinical trial in 165 opioid- and cocaine-dependent patients who were treated with desipramine (DMI) in combination with buprenorphine (BUP) or methadone (Meth). Patients with a cocaine-positive urine at baseline (CU+) had significantly fewer cocaine free urines than those with a negative urine at baseline (CU-neg). The CU+ patients showed no treatment effects of DMI compared to placebo, but the CU-neg patients showed a treatment effect of DMI. This DMI effect was significant in patients maintained on BUP but not on Meth.