Treatment of Khat Addiction with Bromocriptine Mesylate: A Case Report and Review of Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Like Effects

A patient addicted to khat was successfully treated as an outpatient. He was detoxified with bromocriptine mesylate 1.25 mg. q 6 h which was titrated downward over 4 weeks. Khat is a bush historically indigenous to the Mideast. It has high addictive potential due to its constituent, "cathinone." Cathinone, (1(5) + (minus sign) aminopropiophenon), is a sympathomimetic, similar but not identical to cocaine and amphetamine in activity and addiction potential. Bromocriptine has been extensively reported to successfully detoxify cocaine addiction and could be useful in khat addiction.