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Cocaine WithdrawalPhase 1/2NCT04306354

Use of Intranasal Oxytocin During Detoxification of Crack Cocaine

A Phase 1/2 study testing Oxytocin nasal spray and Conventional Inpatient Treatment in people with Cocaine Withdrawal and Cocaine Smoking, run by Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul at 1 site in Brazil.

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

This study investigated whether adding oxytocin nasal spray to usual inpatient treatment could reduce withdrawal, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in women hospitalized for cocaine detoxification. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 52 years, women only
What is being tested?
Oxytocin nasal spray and Conventional Inpatient Treatment
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
84 participants
Where
1 siteBrazil
Study dates
17 Sep 2018to 14 Jul 2020
Phase
Phase 1/2
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 18 to 52 years
  • Women only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Female participants aged 18 to 52 years.
  • Primary diagnosis of cocaine use disorder according to DSM-5 criteria. Other co-occurring substance use disorders were permitted, provided that cocaine was the primary drug of choice.
  • Abstinence from cocaine for at least seven days before the intervention.
  • Provision of informed consent and willingness to undergo random allocation to one of the study groups.

Who cannot join

  • HIV-positive status.
  • Pregnancy, postpartum status, or breastfeeding.
  • Menopause.
  • Current moderate or severe psychotic syndrome.
  • Treatment with corticosteroids, synthetic glucocorticoids, or other exogenous hormone or steroid therapy.
  • Intellectual impairment, defined as an intelligence quotient below 70.
Show all 16Show fewer
  • An infectious condition or acute febrile syndrome.
  • Diagnosed or suspected neurological disease or syndrome, including current or previous stroke, epilepsy, cancer, or neurodegenerative disease.
  • Diagnosed or suspected autoimmune disease or syndrome.
  • Diagnosed or suspected current decompensated or severe cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, gastrointestinal, or endocrine disease.
  • History of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, specified in the manuscript as a Glasgow Coma Scale score below 12.
  • Significant nasal congestion preventing intranasal administration.
  • Type III nasal septal deviation with impaired breathing.
  • Nasal mucosal lesions.
  • Class III obesity.
  • History of any hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Brazil1 site
  • Hospital Santa Ana

    Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 91720-440

Other trials in Brazil

About this study

Official title: Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study of Intranasal Oxytocin During Detoxification of Crack Cocaine

This study investigated whether adding oxytocin nasal spray to usual inpatient treatment could reduce withdrawal, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in women hospitalized for cocaine detoxification.

A total of 84 women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: usual treatment plus oxytocin nasal spray (30 participants), usual treatment plus placebo nasal spray (29 participants), or usual treatment alone (25 participants). Participants receiving a nasal spray and the staff administering it did not know whether it contained oxytocin or placebo. The usual-treatment-only group did not receive a nasal spray and was not masked.

Symptoms were assessed during hospitalization, before, during, and after the intervention. Follow-up assessed relapse and duration of abstinence during the six months after discharge, using telephone contact with participants and family members and review of outpatient medical records. Outpatient treatment adherence was also a planned secondary outcome.

Read the detailed description

This study investigated whether adjunctive intranasal oxytocin could improve symptom reduction during inpatient detoxification in women with cocaine use disorder. It was conducted in a tertiary inpatient unit in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Eligible participants who provided informed consent were randomly allocated to conventional treatment plus intranasal oxytocin, conventional treatment plus intranasal placebo, or conventional treatment alone. The placebo comparison evaluated the additional effects of oxytocin, while the conventional-treatment-only group provided a reference for symptom changes during usual inpatient care.

All groups received conventional inpatient treatment, including psychosocial interventions, nutritional care, physical activity, nursing care, and psychopharmacotherapy as clinically indicated. The intranasal intervention was administered during a 10-day period beginning on hospital day 8.

Participants and personnel administering the nasal spray were blinded to oxytocin versus placebo assignment. The conventional-treatment-only group received no nasal spray and was not masked.

Withdrawal and depressive symptoms were evaluated before, during, and after the intervention. The assessment windows were hospital days 1-4 for T1, days 8-11 for T2, and days 18-21 for T3. For participants receiving oxytocin or placebo, the final assessment was scheduled at least 24 hours after the last spray administration. Withdrawal symptoms were assessed using the Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment (CSSA), and depressive symptoms using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS-SR). Anxiety symptoms were also assessed using the PROMIS anxiety short form, as specified in the registered outcomes.

Concomitant psychotropic medication use during hospitalization was recorded to characterize medication exposure alongside symptom changes.

At the end of the six-month period following discharge, participants and their family members were contacted by telephone, and outpatient medical records were reviewed to obtain information on abstinence duration and relapse after discharge. Outpatient treatment adherence was also specified as a secondary outcome in the registered protocol.

Being tested
Oxytocin nasal spray, placebo nasal spray, Conventional Inpatient Treatment
Keywords
crack cocaine, addiction, stimulants, oxytocin, detoxification, abstinence, withdrawal
Medical subject headings
Cocaine Smoking, Cocaine-Related Disorders, Behavior, Addictive

What participants receive

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

  • Oxytocin nasal sprayDrug

    Intranasal oxytocin was administered as six sprays containing 4 IU each (24 IU per administration), twice daily, for a total daily dose of 48 IU. Treatment was given from hospital day 8 through day 17, for 10 days, as an adjunct to conventional inpatient treatment.

  • placebo nasal sprayDrug

    Intranasal placebo was administered as six sprays twice daily from hospital day 8 through day 17, for 10 days, as an adjunct to conventional inpatient treatment. The placebo contained the same vehicle as the oxytocin formulation, with 2% propolis essence added for odor matching.

  • Conventional Inpatient TreatmentOther

    Conventional inpatient treatment included individual and group supportive psychotherapy once weekly, nutritional care, regular physical activity, nursing care, and psychopharmacotherapy as clinically indicated to manage withdrawal-related symptoms, including anxiety, aggression, and agitation. The planned inpatient treatment period was 21 days.

Study groups in NCT04306354
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Conventional Treatment Plus Intranasal Oxytocin (OXT)ExperimentalParticipants received intranasal oxytocin in addition to conventional inpatient treatment. Each administration consisted of six sprays containing 4 IU each (24 IU per administration), given twice daily for a total daily dose of 48 IU. Treatment was administered from hospital day 8 through day 17, for 10 days. Conventional treatment included individual and group supportive psychotherapy, nutritional care, regular physical activity, nursing care, and psychopharmacotherapy as clinically indicated to manage withdrawal-related symptoms. The planned inpatient treatment period was 21 days.
Receives: Drug: Oxytocin nasal spray
Conventional Treatment Plus Intranasal Placebo (PBO)Placebo comparatorParticipants received intranasal placebo in addition to conventional inpatient treatment. Each administration consisted of six sprays of placebo solution, given twice daily from hospital day 8 through day 17, for 10 days. The placebo contained the same vehicle as the oxytocin formulation, with 2% propolis essence added for odor matching. Conventional treatment included individual and group supportive psychotherapy, nutritional care, regular physical activity, nursing care, and psychopharmacotherapy as clinically indicated to manage withdrawal-related symptoms. The planned inpatient treatment period was 21 days.
Receives: Drug: placebo nasal spray
Conventional Treatment Alone (CON)Active comparatorParticipants received conventional inpatient treatment alone, without intranasal oxytocin or placebo. Conventional treatment included individual and group supportive psychotherapy once weekly, nutritional care, regular physical activity, nursing care, and psychopharmacotherapy as clinically indicated to manage withdrawal-related symptoms, including anxiety, aggression, and agitation. The planned inpatient treatment period was 21 days.
Receives: Other: Conventional Inpatient Treatment

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

    Change from baseline to the end of inpatient detoxification in the Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment (CSSA) total score. Total scores range from 0 to 112, with higher scores indicating greater withdrawal symptom severity. Change is calculated as the end-of-treatment score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (first week after hospital admission) and end of inpatient detoxification (up to hospital day 21).

  2. Change in Anxiety Symptoms

    Change from baseline to the end of inpatient detoxification in the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety Short Form raw total score. Raw total scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptom severity. Change is calculated as the end-of-treatment score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (first week after hospital admission) and end of inpatient detoxification (up to hospital day 21).

  3. Change in Depressive Symptoms

    Change from baseline to the end of inpatient detoxification in the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report (QIDS-SR) total score. Total scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity. Change is calculated as the end-of-treatment score minus the baseline score; negative values indicate improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (first week after hospital admission) and end of inpatient detoxification (up to hospital day 21).

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Neuroleptic Dose Change

    Dose change of neuroleptic medications used during hospitalization for agitation or irritability (expected 25% lower).

    Measured: Change from baseline (first week after hospital admission) at the end of detoxification treatment (21 days)

  2. Percentage of Participants Enrolled in Outpatient Treatment at Six Months

    Percentage of participants enrolled in an outpatient treatment program six months after discharge from inpatient detoxification, as determined by review of outpatient medical records. Participants enrolled in the program at the six-month assessment are classified as adherent according to the study's operational definition. Higher percentages indicate greater outpatient treatment adherence.

    Measured: Six months after hospital discharge.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted12 Mar 2020
  2. Study start17 Sep 2018
  3. Primary completion12 Jan 2020
  4. Study completion14 Jul 2020

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 1/2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to three parallel groups: conventional inpatient treatment plus intranasal oxytocin, conventional inpatient treatment plus intranasal placebo, or conventional inpatient treatment alone. Randomization used blocks of 12 participants, with four assignments to each group, and was performed by a research team member who had no contact with participants.
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
84 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04306354
Sponsor's protocol ID
U1111-1188-6555
Other IDs
U1111-1188-6555, 39868314.0.0000.5336
Status last verified
Sep 2026
First submitted
9 Mar 2020
Last updated
28 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: De-identified individual participant data underlying the results reported in the study publications will be made available to qualified researchers upon reasonable request. The shared dataset will include relevant participant characteristics, treatment allocation, and outcome data, together with a data dictionary. Direct identifiers will be removed, and potentially identifying information will be reviewed before release to protect participant confidentiality.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1/2 study testing Oxytocin nasal spray and Conventional Inpatient Treatment in people with Cocaine Withdrawal and Cocaine Smoking, run by Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul at 1 site in Brazil.

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 16 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 Sep 2026. 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 Brazil. 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 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.

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

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?

Change in Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms (time frame: Baseline (first week after hospital admission) and end of inpatient detoxification (up to hospital day 21).). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 28 Sep 2026.

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