AzTrials
AzTrials

Alcohol Use DisorderPhase 4NCT06269627

Temporally-Resolved Electrophysiology of Acamprosate Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

A Phase 4 study testing Acamprosate calcium in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Background: Chronic heavy drinking can cause alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD changes how the brain works. People with AUD may drink compulsively or feel like they cannot control their alcohol use. Acamprosate is an FDA-approved drug that reduces anxiety and craving in some, but not all, people with AUD. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Alcohol Use Disorder
What is being tested?
Acamprosate calcium
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
48 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
7 May 2025to 31 Dec 2026
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

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

Who may be able to join

  • In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
  • Age 21-65. In younger participants, the central nervous system has not sufficiently developed, whereas in older participants, degenerative changes may confound the studied measures. Moreover, the minimum legal drinking age is 21 years.
  • Enrolled in NIAAA natural history protocol 14-AA-0181.
  • Admitted to alcohol treatment program of NIAAA with moderate to severe alcohol use disorder by a clinician at the time of admission.
  • Determination by the attending physician or licensed practitioner caring for the patient that the patient's current clinical status is stable enough to provide informed consent for research.

Who cannot join

  • An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
  • Use of naltrexone, disulfiram, benzodiazepines (except Oxazepam), antiepileptic compounds, antidepressants, neuroleptics, or acamprosate within a time sufficient for the medication to be eliminated from the body (five half-lives from last use).
  • Pregnancy at admission (negative urine pregnancy test required).
  • History of head trauma associated with an unconscious state lasting more than 30 minutes, persistent sequelae, and/or cranial surgery.
  • History of epilepsy.
  • History of non-substance related psychotic disorders.
  • Contraindications for acamprosate (previously exhibited hypersensitivity to acamprosate calcium or any of its compounds; and/or severe renal impairment, manifested as Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) <= 60 ml/min/1.73 m2).
  • Positive screens for alcohol or any illicit drugs (except THC) after admission and alcohol detoxification via breathanalysis and urine drug screen.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Beth A Lee, R.N. contact

(301) 451-6964

beth.lee@nih.gov

Nancy Diazgranados, M.D. contact

(301) 496-7515

nancy.diazgranados@nih.gov

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892

    NIH Clinical Center Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR), 800-411-1222 ext. TTY dial 711, ccopr@nih.gov

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Background:

Chronic heavy drinking can cause alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD changes how the brain works. People with AUD may drink compulsively or feel like they cannot control their alcohol use. Acamprosate is an FDA-approved drug that reduces anxiety and craving in some, but not all, people with AUD.

Read more

Objective:

To learn more about how acamprosate affects brain function in people with AUD.

Eligibility:

People aged 21 to 65 years with moderate to severe AUD.

Design:

Participants will stay in the clinic for 21 days after a detoxification period of approximately 7 days.

Acamprosate is a capsule taken by mouth. Half of participants will take this drug 3 times a day with meals. The other half will take a placebo. The placebo looks like the study drug but does not contain any medicine. Participants will not know which capsules they are taking.

Participants will have a procedure called electroencephalography (EEG): A gel will be applied to certain locations on their scalp, and a snug cap will be placed on their head. The cap has sensors with wires. The sensors detect electrical activity in the brain. Participants will lie still and perform 2 tasks: they will look at different shapes and press a button when they see a specific one; and they will listen to tones and press dedicated buttons when they hear the corresponding tones.

Participants will have 2 EEGs: 1 on day 2 and 1 on day 23 of their study participation. They may opt to have up to 4 more EEG studies (one on day 13 and one on each of the three follow-up visits) and 2 sleep studies, in which they would have sensors attached to their scalp while they sleep.

Participants may have up to three follow-up visits for 6 months.

Read the detailed description

Study Description:

This double-blind placebo-controlled study will focus on electrophysiological changes in brains of alcohol use disorder (AUD)inpatients resulting from a post-withdrawal 21-day acamprosate/placebo treatment. Known and established electroencephalogram (EEG) markers of AUD as well as anxiety and alcohol craving levels will be assessed pre- and post-treatment. We hypothesize that acamprosate normalizes EEG markers associated with AUD beyond placebo, specifically, reduces beta power, increases alpha power, does not change slow band (delta and theta) power in resting EEG; and reduces theta event-related synchronization (ERS), and amplifies and hastens P300 waveforms in event-related potentials (ERPs).

Objectives:

Primary Objective: To test, via within-subject comparisons, whether a 21-day acamprosate treatment regimen normalizes the EEG of AUD inpatients beyond placebo in reducing beta power, increasing alpha power, and changing slow band (delta and theta) power in resting EEG; and reducing theta event-related synchronization (ERS), and amplifying and hastening P300 waveforms in event-related potentials (ERPs).

Secondary Objectives: 1) To correlate EEG changes with clinical changes, such as anxiety and alcohol craving. 2) To determine polysomnographic markers of response to acamprosate. 3) To correlate polysomnographic markers with clinical changes, such as anxiety and alcohol craving.

Endpoints:

Primary Endpoint: The said markers of EEG power and higher order EEG patterns will be measured before and after the 21-day treatment to compare the active-medication and placebo groups.

Secondary Endpoints: 1) Acamprosate-induced changes in EEG power and higher order EEG patterns will be correlated to changes in anxiety and alcohol craving. 2) Acamprosate-induced changes in EEG power will be correlated to changes in polysomnographic markers such as total sleep time, slow wave sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and total wake duration after sleep onset. 3) Changes in polysomnographic markers will be correlated to changes in anxiety and alcohol craving.

Being tested
Acamprosate calcium, Placebo
Keywords
Multimodal, Neuroscience, Resting State, Event-Related Potentials, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY, Acamprosate
Medical subject headings
Alcoholism

What participants receive

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

  • Acamprosate calciumDrug

    Two oral capsules (packaged as one) containing 666 mg of acamprosate calcium will be given three times a day (total daily dose: 1998 mg/day) for a total of 21 days.

  • PlaceboOther

    Two oral capsules (packaged as one) containing 666 mg of inactive substance (e.g., sugar) will be given three times a day (total daily dose: 1998 mg/day) for a total of 21 days.

Study groups in NCT06269627
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ActiveActive comparatorThis arm has participants receiving acamprosate for 21 day as inpatients.
Receives: Drug: Acamprosate calcium
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorThis arm has participants receiving placebo for 21 day as inpatients.
Receives: Other: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Reduction of beta power

    Spectral power of EEG signals will be calculated in the beta frequency band (beta power). We expect a reduction of beta power to be greater in participants receiving acamprosate for 21 days than participants receiving placebo.

    Measured: 21 day period as inpatients

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Promotion of alpha power in active group compared to placebo group.

    Spectral power of EEG signals will be calculated in the alpha frequency band (alpha power). We expect a promotion of alpha power to be greater in participants receiving acamprosate for 21 days than participants receiving placebo.

    Measured: 21 day period as inpatients

  2. No change in slow band (delta and theta) power in active group compared to placebo group.

    Spectral power of EEG signals will be calculated in the delta and theta frequency bands (slow band power). We do not expect a significant difference in change in slow band power between the active and placebo groups over the course of 21 days.

    Measured: 21 day period as inpatients

  3. Reduction of theta event-related synchronization in active group compared to placebo group.

    Immediate brain activity, recorded via EEG, in response to task-related stimuli is termed as event-related potentials (ERPs). Spectral power of such ERPs in theta frequency band is called theta event-related synchronization (ERS).We expect a reduction of theta ERS to be greater in participants receiving acamprosate for 21 days than participants receiving placebo.

    Measured: 21 day period as inpatients

  4. Amplification and hastening of P300 in active group compared to placebo group.

    Immediate brain activity, recorded via EEG, in response to task-related stimuli is termed as event-related potentials (ERPs). These ERPs have stereotypical peaks, e.g., P300. We expect amplification and hastening of P300 peaks in ERPs among participants receiving acamprosate for 21 days in comparison to participants receiving placebo.

    Measured: 21 day period as inpatients

  5. Correlation of EEG markers of acamprosate treatment with clinical measures of anxiety and alcohol craving

    The above EEG measures that are found to be associated with acamprosate treatment will be tested for correlation with clinical measures of anxiety and alcohol craving.

    Measured: 21 day period as inpatients

  6. Correlation of EEG markers of acamprosate treatment with polysomnography markers

    The above EEG measures that are found to be associated with acamprosate treatment will be tested for correlation with polysomnography markers such as total sleep time, slow wave sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and total wake duration after sleep onset.

    Measured: 21 day period as inpatients

  7. Correlation of polysomnography markers of acamprosate treatment with clinical measures of anxiety and alcohol craving

    The above polysomnography measures that are found to be associated with acamprosate treatment will be tested for correlation with clinical measures of anxiety and alcohol craving.

    Measured: 21 day period as inpatients

Timeline

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

  1. First posted21 Feb 2024
  2. Study start7 May 2025
  3. Primary completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 Dec 2026 (estimated)

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 4
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
48 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06269627
Sponsor's protocol ID
10001644
Other IDs
001644-AA
Status last verified
28 Oct 2026
First submitted
17 Feb 2024
Last updated
2 Nov 2026
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided: Study participant research data will include but not be limited to cognitive responses, EEG and PSG recordings, and cardiac and ocular activities (electronic data); and clinical and study assessments, and behavioral interviews (paper data). Individual participants and their research data will be identified by a unique study identification number. The key to link participants with their research data will be limited to the participating investigators, including the PI, lead associate investigator, and CNIRC research coordinators. Access to study data will be restricted to authorized personnel. De-identified data may be shared with collaborating researchers for data analysis.

Publications

  • Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C, Bobashev G, Thomas K, Wines R, Kim MM, Shanahan E, Gass CE, Rowe CJ, Garbutt JC. Pharmacotherapy for adults with alcohol use disorders in outpatient settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2014 May 14;311(18):1889-900. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.3628.

    PubMed 24825644
  • Sacks JJ, Gonzales KR, Bouchery EE, Tomedi LE, Brewer RD. 2010 National and State Costs of Excessive Alcohol Consumption. Am J Prev Med. 2015 Nov;49(5):e73-e79. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2015.05.031. Epub 2015 Oct 1.

    PubMed 26477807
  • Bauer LO. Predicting relapse to alcohol and drug abuse via quantitative electroencephalography. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2001 Sep;25(3):332-40. doi: 10.1016/S0893-133X(01)00236-6.

    PubMed 11522462
  • Rangaswamy M, Porjesz B, Chorlian DB, Wang K, Jones KA, Bauer LO, Rohrbaugh J, O'Connor SJ, Kuperman S, Reich T, Begleiter H. Beta power in the EEG of alcoholics. Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Oct 15;52(8):831-42. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01362-8.

    PubMed 12372655
  • Rangaswamy M, Porjesz B, Chorlian DB, Wang K, Jones KA, Kuperman S, Rohrbaugh J, O'Connor SJ, Bauer LO, Reich T, Begleiter H. Resting EEG in offspring of male alcoholics: beta frequencies. Int J Psychophysiol. 2004 Feb;51(3):239-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2003.09.003.

    PubMed 14962576
  • Sullivan PF, Daly MJ, O'Donovan M. Genetic architectures of psychiatric disorders: the emerging picture and its implications. Nat Rev Genet. 2012 Jul 10;13(8):537-51. doi: 10.1038/nrg3240.

    PubMed 22777127
  • Davies M. The role of GABAA receptors in mediating the effects of alcohol in the central nervous system. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2003 Jul;28(4):263-74.

    PubMed 12921221
  • Kalk NJ, Lingford-Hughes AR. The clinical pharmacology of acamprosate. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Feb;77(2):315-23. doi: 10.1111/bcp.12070.

    PubMed 23278595
  • Naassila M, Hammoumi S, Legrand E, Durbin P, Daoust M. Mechanism of action of acamprosate. Part I. Characterization of spermidine-sensitive acamprosate binding site in rat brain. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1998 Jun;22(4):802-9.

    PubMed 9660304
  • Umhau JC, Momenan R, Schwandt ML, Singley E, Lifshitz M, Doty L, Adams LJ, Vengeliene V, Spanagel R, Zhang Y, Shen J, George DT, Hommer D, Heilig M. Effect of acamprosate on magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of central glutamate in detoxified alcohol-dependent individuals: a randomized controlled experimental medicine study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010 Oct;67(10):1069-77. doi: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.125.

    PubMed 20921123
  • Harris BR, Prendergast MA, Gibson DA, Rogers DT, Blanchard JA, Holley RC, Fu MC, Hart SR, Pedigo NW, Littleton JM. Acamprosate inhibits the binding and neurotoxic effects of trans-ACPD, suggesting a novel site of action at metabotropic glutamate receptors. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2002 Dec;26(12):1779-93. doi: 10.1097/01.ALC.0000042011.99580.98.

    PubMed 12500101
  • Dahchour A, De Witte P. Effects of acamprosate on excitatory amino acids during multiple ethanol withdrawal periods. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2003 Mar;27(3):465-70. doi: 10.1097/01.ALC.0000056617.68874.18.

    PubMed 12658112
  • Spanagel R, Pendyala G, Abarca C, Zghoul T, Sanchis-Segura C, Magnone MC, Lascorz J, Depner M, Holzberg D, Soyka M, Schreiber S, Matsuda F, Lathrop M, Schumann G, Albrecht U. The clock gene Per2 influences the glutamatergic system and modulates alcohol consumption. Nat Med. 2005 Jan;11(1):35-42. doi: 10.1038/nm1163. Epub 2004 Dec 19.

    PubMed 15608650
  • Mason BJ, Ownby RL. Acamprosate for the treatment of alcohol dependence: a review of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. CNS Spectr. 2000 Feb;5(2):58-69. doi: 10.1017/s1092852900012827.

    PubMed 18296999
  • Witkiewitz K, Saville K, Hamreus K. Acamprosate for treatment of alcohol dependence: mechanisms, efficacy, and clinical utility. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2012;8:45-53. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S23184. Epub 2012 Feb 1.

    PubMed 22346357

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Acamprosate calcium in people with Alcohol Use Disorder, run by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) 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 5 inclusion and 8 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Nov 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 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 phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

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

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

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

Contact Beth A Lee, R.N. ((301) 451-6964, beth.lee@nih.gov), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Reduction of beta power (time frame: 21 day period as inpatients). 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 NCT06269627, which also lists 43 linked publications.

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 2 Nov 2026.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in