Ziprasidone Pretreatment Attenuates the Lethal Effects of Cocaine in a Mouse Model

Abstract

Cocaine intoxication is a common cause of agitation in emergency department patients. Ziprasidone, an atypical antipsychotic, is being increasingly used for sedation of agitated patients in the emergency department. To provide preliminary animal data on the efficacy of ziprasidone for the treatment of acute cocaine poisoning. This was a randomized, blinded comparison of ziprasidone and placebo for the prevention of seizures and apparent lethality in a mouse model of cocaine intoxication. Animals were assigned to either placebo or 0.4 mg/kg or 1.2 mg/m(2) of ziprasidone intraperitoneally 30 minutes prior to administration of 105 mg/kg of cocaine. Study outcomes were the proportions of animals having seizures and the apparent lethality. 1.2 mg/m(2) of ziprasidone decreased the lethal effects of cocaine by 50%, while 0.4 mg/kg decreased lethality by 13%. There was no effect on seizures at either dose. Ziprasidone pretreatment decreased lethality in this mouse model of severe cocaine intoxication.