The Effectiveness of Caffeine (Rescuecaf) in Craving Reduction and Relapse Prevention in Methamphetamine Use Disorder: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: One of the most critical public health issues in psychiatric and medical concerns is methamphetamine (METH) dependence. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate caffeine (Rescuecaf) effectiveness in reducing craving and relapse prevention in METH dependence. Methods: In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 15 participants in the experimental group received 4.5 mg/kg of caffeine (with an average daily dose of 300 mg for each participant for three months), and 15 patients with METH use disorder were treated with the placebo. Addiction severity was measured daily using the addiction intensity index (ASI). The Amphetamine Withdrawal Questionnaire (AWQ), Amphetamine Selective Severity Assessment (ASSA), and Drug Complications Questionnaire were used for data collection. Statistical analysis was carried out on weeks 1, 6, and 12 after the intervention and between caffeine- and placebo-treated patients based on repeated measures and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) at the 95% confidence interval. Results: There was a significant difference between the experimental and placebo groups in METH-dependency and deprivation symptoms. In addition, in the experimental group, there was a significant difference between weeks 1, 6, and 12 (P > 0.05), but no significant difference was found between weeks 6 and 12. No significant side effects were seen during caffeine consumption during the second, fourth, and sixth weeks. Conclusions: Caffeine is an efficient, new drug capable of managing amphetamine withdrawal syndrome.