Previous studies indicate that the augmented salt appetite induced by repeated sodium depletions may be related to psychostimulant‐induced sensitization. We further investigated this hypothesis by treating the same rats with DOCA to induce salt appetite and with cocaine to induce psychomotor sensitization. In Exp. 1, two groups of rats had either access to sodium (DS) or no access (DnS) and received daily injections of DOCA for 8 days. A third group with sodium access received vehicle (V) injections. All groups had access to distilled water. After a week off, rats were injected with cocaine and placed into cages to monitor activity. The group DnS displayed increased locomotion and showed an increased sensitivity to cocaine compared to V and DS groups. In Exp. 2, rats received daily injections of either cocaine (Coc) or saline (Sal) for 7 days. The Coc and Sal groups were then subdivided into 3 subgroups (DS, DnS, and V) and given DOCA treatment for 7 days. Finally, all rats were given access to sodium. DS rats with Coc history showed increased sodium appetite compared to rats with Sal history, whereas DnS rats with Coc or Sal history did not differ. In summary, DOCA‐induced salt appetite and cocaine‐induced psychomotor responses cross‐sensitized with one another suggesting that sodium appetite induced by DOCA and cocaine‐induced psychomotor sensitization share similar mechanisms.AHA 0625661Z; NIH DK66086 & HL14388