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Drug DependencePhase 2/3GBNNCT02543944

Improving Treatment Outcomes for Prescription Opioid Dependence

A Phase 2/3 study testing Gabapentin, Buprenorphine and Clonidine in people with Drug Dependence, run by University of Arkansas at 1 site in United States.

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

Overall, this proposal seeks to improve treatment strategies for the significant public health problem of prescription opioid dependence by determining whether gabapentin, a non-narcotic pharmaceutical agent with minimal abuse potential and preliminary efficacy, will be effective in ameliorating withdrawal symptoms… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Drug Dependence
What is being tested?
Gabapentin, Buprenorphine and Clonidine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
117 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Feb 2016to 31 May 2021
Phase
Phase 2/3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • be between the ages of 18-65
  • be available to attend clinic 6 days a week for approximately 30-60 minutes per day during the first 4 3 weeks
  • fulfill Diagnostic Statistical Manual-5 criteria for moderate to severe opioid dependence. These criteria will be ascertained in the following manner: the physician will determine whether the individual is appropriate based on several clinical assessments that are routinely employed by methadone program physicians, including history and severity of opioid use, presence of track marks, prior treatment history, self-reported and/or observed signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal. If any individual's degree of opioid dependence is questionable, that person will be excluded from further consideration as a participant.
  • submit a urine sample negative for benzodiazepines or barbiturates prior to starting the study.

Who cannot join

  • report having had a severe adverse reaction to study medications
  • have an unstable medical condition or stable medical condition that would interact with study medications or participation, including a current chronic pain or other medical condition that requires ongoing opioid agonist treatment (determined by physician assessment)
  • have a major psychiatric disorder (psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar)
  • have major depression or anxiety disorder requiring psychoactive medication (as determined by physician)
  • physiological dependence on alcohol or drugs other than opioids, tobacco or marijuana (as determined by physician assessment)
  • are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or have inadequate birth control, if relevant
Show all 9Show fewer
  • report ongoing use of over-the-counter or prescription drug (including Maalox) that would have major interaction with study drugs
  • have any of the following: liver function tests >3 times normal, blood urea nitrogen and Creatinine outside normal range; electrocardiogram abnormalities including but not limited to: bradycardia (<50 bpm); prolonged QT interval corrected for heart rate (>450 msec); Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome; wide complex tachycardia; 2nd degree, Mobitz type II heart block; 3rd degree heart block; left or right bundle branch block; pre-existing severe gastrointestinal narrowing (pathologic or iatrogenic).
  • Individuals with anxiety or depression will not be excluded unless they are taking prescription medication for their disorder under a physician's care or findings during screening indicate a need for immediate treatment determined by the study physician and/or the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

    Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205

Other trials in United States

About this study

Overall, this proposal seeks to improve treatment strategies for the significant public health problem of prescription opioid dependence by determining whether gabapentin, a non-narcotic pharmaceutical agent with minimal abuse potential and preliminary efficacy, will be effective in ameliorating withdrawal symptoms, craving and illicit drug use in prescription opioid dependent participants undergoing a 10-day detoxification from buprenorphine. In addition, the acceptability and feasibility of transitioning to depot naltrexone therapy will also be determined. If successful, this study would provide data to support further development of gabapentin as a pharmacological tool for improved outcomes during opioid detoxification as well as an integrated outpatient approach for treating prescription opioid dependence.

Read the detailed description

Opioid dependence is a serious public health problem, particularly with the dramatic rise in prescription opioid abuse, but long-term opioid agonist maintenance with methadone or buprenorphine (BUP) may not be optimal for many prescription opioid abusers. Yet current opioid detoxification strategies are limited by high relapse rates and/or lack of efficacy in relieving subjective symptoms. In addition, antagonist maintenance with naltrexone (NTX), which may be an optimal longer-term strategy for this population, requires prior opioid detoxification and has been associated with relatively poor outcomes in heroin abusers. This application takes a novel, broad approach to address the problem of prescription opioid dependence by determining the 1) utility of adjunct gabapentin (GBP) during outpatient BUP detoxification to improve initial outcomes and 2) feasibility of transitioning prescription opioid -dependent patients to depot NTX following detoxification, which may improve longer-term outcomes. GBP, an N-type calcium channel blocker with low abuse potential, potentiates opioid analgesia, decreases both postoperative morphine consumption and movement-related pain, and reverses tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of morphine. GBP is also well tolerated and effective in reducing craving and illicit opioid use in pilot detoxification trials. The efficacy and tolerability of adjunct GBP during BUP-assisted detoxification and the feasibility of subsequent transition to depot NTX therapy in prescription opioid -dependent participants will be assessed. This 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial will determine the potential utility of adjunct GBP in 150 prescription opioid -dependent individuals undergoing outpatient BUP detoxification and whether transition to short-term depot NTX therapy is feasible. Our three specific aims are to determine (1) the efficacy and tolerability of GBP to reduce craving and illicit use of opioids in prescription opioid-dependent individuals undergoing outpatient BUP detoxification; (2) acceptability and feasibility of transition to, and short-term maintenance on, depot NTX following detoxification; and (3) prognosticators of completion of the BUP taper, successful induction onto depot NTX, symptomatology, and longer-term outcomes. Currently, the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications for the treatment of opioid withdrawal are the opioid agonists methadone and BUP, both of which have abuse liability, and NTX, which can produce low levels of withdrawal-like symptoms, especially early in treatment. Findings, if positive, will support further development of GBP as an adjunct medication as well as provide an integrated, seamless approach to outpatient prescription opioid-dependence treatment. Ultimately, this work could impact the addiction field by providing both procedural and pharmacological tools for treating prescription opioid dependence that significantly improve outpatient detoxification outcomes and markedly enhance access and transition to NTX therapy. This would shift clinical practice, establishing an effective adjunct regimen for BUP detoxification and an integrated approach for transition to NTX therapy. GBP may also be clinically useful for other situations where opioid withdrawal is a concern.

Conditions
Drug Dependence
Being tested
Gabapentin, Buprenorphine, Clonidine, Naltrexone (oral), Naltrexone (depot)
Medical subject headings
Substance-Related Disorders

What participants receive

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

  • GabapentinDrug

    N-type calcium channel blocker being examined for its potential efficacy to alleviate opioid withdrawal during buprenorphine-assisted detoxification and transition to depot naltrexone.

  • BuprenorphineDrug

    All participants are stabilized on buprenorphine and then undergo a 10 day taper off buprenorphine.

  • ClonidineDrug

    All participants who successfully taper off buprenorphine receive Clonidine (0.1 mg) prior to induction onto oral naltrexone.

  • Naltrexone (oral)Drug

    All participants receive increasing doses of oral naltrexone over a 3 day period (day 1: 6.25 and 6.25 mg; day 2: 25 mg; day 3: 50 mg)

  • Naltrexone (depot)Drug

    All participants who tolerate oral naltrexone at 50 mg will receive the naltrexone injection on either the same day as the 50 mg dose or the day after.

  • PlaceboDrug

    Microcrystalline cellulose

Study groups in NCT02543944
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
GabapentinActive comparatorGabapentin started on day 3 of week 1, increased up to a maximum dose of 800 mg BID by day 3 of week 2 and maintained for 2 weeks followed by 5-day taper. Buprenorphine (BUP) stabilization up to 12 mg (day 2 of week 1) then a 10-day BUP taper by the end of week 3. During week 4, detoxed subjects get 0.1 mg of clonidine followed by oral naltrexone (NTX) at 6.25 mg and another 6.25 mg (day 1), 25 mg (day 2) and 50 mg (day 3) then depot NTX injection (later on day 3 or day 4).
Receives: Drug: Gabapentin; Drug: Buprenorphine; Drug: Clonidine; Drug: Naltrexone (oral); Drug: Naltrexone (depot)
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorParticipants in this arm begin receiving placebo (microcrystalline cellulose) in twice daily capsules on day 3 of week 1 and continue to do so through the beginning of week 5. Buprenorphine (BUP) stabilization up to 12 mg (day 2 of week 1) then a 10-day BUP taper by the end of week 3. During week 4, detoxed subjects get 0.1 mg of clonidine followed by oral naltrexone (NTX) at 6.25 mg and another 6.25 mg (day 1), 25 mg (day 2) and 50 mg (day 3) then depot NTX injection (later on day 3 or day 4).
Receives: Drug: Buprenorphine; Drug: Clonidine; Drug: Naltrexone (oral); Drug: Naltrexone (depot); Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Detoxification Phase: Changes in Percent of Illicit Opioid-positive Urine Samples Over Time

    Thrice weekly urine samples obtained during weeks 1-3; data include assessments from week 1 day 1 through week 4 day 1 (up to 10 total samples per participant)

    Measured: Week 1 day 1 (study entry) through Week 4 day 1 (first day of NTX transition)

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. NTX Transition Initiation

    % of Participants who completed the detox and started the NTX transition

    Measured: 3 days (wk 4 day 1 - week 4 day 3)

  2. Vivitrol Injection Receivers

    % of participants starting the NTX transition who received Vivitrol injection

    Measured: 5 days (week 4 day 1 to week 4 day 5)

  3. Detox Phase Completers

    % of enrolled participants who completed the Detox Phase

    Measured: 3 weeks (week 1-3)

Timeline

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

  1. First posted7 Sep 2015 (estimated)
  2. Study startFeb 2016
  3. Primary completion25 May 2021
  4. Study completion31 May 2021

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 2/3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
117 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02543944
Sponsor's protocol ID
203970
Other IDs
R01DA039088
Acronym
GBN
Status last verified
May 2022
First submitted
25 Aug 2015
Last updated
28 Jul 2022
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Ray A, Mancino MJ, Thostenson JD, Guise JB, Hendrickson HP, Nunes EV, Oliveto AH. Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of gabapentin during outpatient buprenorphine-assisted taper and transition to injectable naltrexone. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2025;51(6):761-775. doi: 10.1080/00952990.2025.2564757. Epub 2025 Dec 16.

    PubMed 41401348

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2/3 study testing Gabapentin, Buprenorphine and Clonidine in people with Drug Dependence, run by University of Arkansas at 1 site in United States.

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 4 inclusion and 9 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 28 Jul 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

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 combined phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

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

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 28 Jul 2022). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Detoxification Phase: Changes in Percent of Illicit Opioid-positive Urine Samples Over Time (time frame: Week 1 day 1 (study entry) through Week 4 day 1 (first day of NTX transition)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02543944, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 28 Jul 2022.

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