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Alcohol DependencePhase 1NCT00614328

Combination of Naltrexone and Baclofen for Alcohol Dependence:A Pilot Study.

A Phase 1 study of Alcohol Dependence, run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this research study is to learn about the use of a combination of two medications, baclofen and naltrexone, for the treatment of alcohol dependence in men and women ages 25-60 years old. Naltrexone is an FDA approved medication for treatment of alcohol dependence. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 25 to 60 years
Conditions the study is for
Alcohol Dependence
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
40 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Jul 2007to Jan 2010
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 25 to 60 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Forty men and women between the ages of 25 to 60 years meeting DSM-IV criteria for current alcohol dependence.
  • Subjects must either have been admitted to UNC Hospitals for a medical detoxification from alcohol and be receiving benzodiazepines for detoxification or recruited from the general population.
  • Must have had at least 2 heavy drinking days (≥5 drinks/day for men or ≥4 drinks/day for women) per week, on average and an average overall consumption of 21 drinks/week or more for men and 14 drinks/week or more for women during the 4 weeks prior to admission or screening and no more than three months of abstinence in the previous year.
  • Able to understand and sign written informed consent.
  • Willingness to engage in treatment and motivation to achieve abstinence or to greatly reduce alcohol consumption.
  • Must have a stable residence and be able to identify an individual who could locate subject if needed.
  • Must have the logistical ability to come to study visits.(This study is being conducted in Chapel Hill, NC. Therefore participants must be able to attend each clinic visit for 12 weeks.)

Who cannot join

  • Clinically significant medical disease that might interfere with the evaluation of the study medication or present a safety concern (e.g., cirrhosis, kidney impairment, unstable hypertension, hypotension, diabetes mellitus, seizure disorder).
  • Patients taking glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants.
  • Clinically significant psychiatric illness including any psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, severe depression, persistent suicidal ideation or suicide attempt, or substance use dependence other than alcohol or nicotine.
  • Any prior history of, or currently presenting with, withdrawal seizure or delirium tremens.
  • AST, or ALT > 3 times Upper Limit of Normal (ULN), or bilirubin > ULN, or estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60.
  • Positive urine toxicology screen with the exception of cannabis or cocaine for inpatients only. Patients recruited from the general population who present with a positive urine toxicology screen other than cannabis will be excluded. Any subject with positive cannabis or cocaine screens will be excluded if they have a history of dependence.
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  • Concurrent use of mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, stimulants, or hypnotics. Use of benzodiazepines is prohibited except during the withdrawal period for inpatients. Antidepressant medication is permitted.
  • Concurrent use of anticonvulsants, insulin, or oral hypoglycemics.
  • Concurrent use of opiates or any use of opiates within 7 days prior to Naltrexone use.
  • Participation in any clinical trial within the last 60 days.
  • Court-mandated participation in alcohol treatment or pending incarceration.
  • For inpatients, lack of urine toxicology or pregnancy test done on date of hospital admission. Outpatient subjects will have a urine toxicology screen and a pregnancy test done (if female).
  • If female, pregnant or breastfeeding women and women of child bearing potential who do not practice a medically acceptable form of birth control.

About this study

Official title: Feasibility and Tolerability of a Combination of Naltrexone and Baclofen for Alcohol Dependence: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this research study is to learn about the use of a combination of two medications, baclofen and naltrexone, for the treatment of alcohol dependence in men and women ages 25-60 years old. Naltrexone is an FDA approved medication for treatment of alcohol dependence. The most widely accepted idea for naltrexone's effect is that it reduces the alcohol "high", which decreases a desire to consume alcohol. As a result, alcoholic patients treated with naltrexone are less likely to relapse to heavy drinking. Furthermore, naltrexone treated patients drink fewer days and are more likely to maintain abstinence.

However, naltrexone does not have any effect on other symptoms that may contribute to relapse such as anxiety, sleep problems and irritability. Baclofen, an FDA approved medication for muscle spasms, may improve some of these symptoms.

Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to gather information on whether adding baclofen to naltrexone is feasible and well tolerated.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of this research study is to learn about the use of a combination of two medications, baclofen and naltrexone, for the treatment of alcohol dependence in men and women ages 25-60 years old. Naltrexone is an FDA approved medication for treatment of alcohol dependence. The most widely accepted idea for naltrexone's effect is that it reduces the alcohol "high", which decreases a desire to consume alcohol. As a result, alcoholic patients treated with naltrexone are less likely to relapse to heavy drinking. Furthermore, naltrexone treated patients drink fewer days and are more likely to maintain abstinence.

However, naltrexone does not have any effect on other symptoms that may contribute to relapse such as anxiety, sleep problems and irritability. Baclofen, an FDA approved medication for muscle spasms, may improve some of these symptoms.

Baclofen has been studied for alcoholism in Italy in 45 individuals in two studies. In the two Italian studies, baclofen significantly reduced alcohol withdrawal symptoms and craving for alcohol, as well as the use of alcohol. These data have been supported by the results of our own pilot study conducted here at UNC in 12 subjects with alcohol dependence. That study showed that baclofen was generally well tolerated, and some individuals had significant improvements in their drinking. Furthermore, we have recently completed enrolling 80 alcohol dependent patients into a placebo-controlled study of baclofen and are currently analyzing the data.

Therefore, the purpose of the current study is to gather information on whether adding baclofen to naltrexone is feasible and well tolerated.

Being tested
Naltrexone, Baclofen, Placebo and Behavior Therapy
Keywords
Alcohol, Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Drinking
Medical subject headings
Alcoholism, Alcohol Drinking

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Naltrexone, Baclofen, Placebo and Behavior TherapyDrug

    Also called Naltrexone/ ReVia

    Naltrexone 50mg/day for 12 weeks Baclofen 10mg tid = 30mg/day for 12 weeks Behavior Therapy 9 sessions

Study groups in NCT00614328
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
1Active comparatorNaltrexone (50 mg once a day) + placebo baclofen + behavioral therapy (n=10)
Receives: Drug: Naltrexone, Baclofen, Placebo and Behavior Therapy
2Active comparatorPlacebo naltrexone + baclofen (10 mg t.i.d) + behavior therapy (n=10)
Receives: Drug: Naltrexone, Baclofen, Placebo and Behavior Therapy
3Active comparatorBaclofen (10 mg t.i.d) + naltrexone (50 mg once per day) + behavior therapy (n=10)
Receives: Drug: Naltrexone, Baclofen, Placebo and Behavior Therapy
4Placebo comparatorPlacebo baclofen + placebo naltrexone + behavior therapy
Receives: Drug: Naltrexone, Baclofen, Placebo and Behavior Therapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. This is an exploratory study to gain experience with the combination of baclofen+naltrexone and to gather pilot data on cytokine levels. Initial interest is in recruitment and retention of study participants.

    Measured: 12 Weeks

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Randomized participants complying with study visits and those lost to follow-up will be calculated.Compliance and follow-up are distinct because some participants may provide drinking patterns during follow-up regardless if they continue treatment.

    Measured: 12 Weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Feb 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2007
  3. Primary completionJan 2010
  4. Study completionJan 2010

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
40 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00614328
Sponsor's protocol ID
05-2988 GCRC 2497
Other IDs
IRB#05-2988
Status last verified
May 2011
First submitted
31 Jan 2008
Last updated
6 May 2011
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study of Alcohol Dependence, run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 May 2011. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

This is an exploratory study to gain experience with the combination of baclofen+naltrexone and to gather pilot data on cytokine levels. Initial interest is in recruitment and retention of study participants. (time frame: 12 Weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 May 2011.

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