Effects of progesterone stimulated allopregnanolone on craving and stress response in cocaine dependent men and women

As expected, cocaine dependent individuals administered progesterone showed significantly higher ALLO plasma levels. High levels of ALLO appeared to normalize basal and stress response levels of cortisol, decrease cocaine craving and also contribute to improvements in positive emotion and Stroop performance in response to stress and drug-cue exposures. These findings suggest that the neuroactive steroid ALLO plays a significant role in mediating the positive effects of progesterone on stress arousal, cognitive performance and drug craving in cocaine dependence.