AzTrials
AzTrials

Renal ColicRELIEF-RCNCT07536594

Relief Efficacy of Lidocaine Versus Morphine for Acute Renal Colic in the Emergency Department

A study testing Lidocaine and Morphine 0,1 mg/kg in people with Renal Colic and Kidney Stones, Urolithiasis, Hypocitraturia, run by Loma Linda University.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The opioid epidemic continues to be a major public health crisis in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 8 million Americans reported misusing prescription opioids in 2023, with over 5 million Americans reporting that they suffer from opioid use disorder. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Lidocaine and Morphine 0,1 mg/kg
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
250 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
Jun 2026to Jun 2028
Phase
Interventional
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 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • In order to be eligible for inclusion in the study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
  • Age ≥ 18 years at time of visit
  • Able and willing to consent for participation in study
  • Documentation of suspected renal colic as primary complaint as evidenced by reported flank pain, back pain, abdominal pain, or groin pain, or as determined by the treating clinician
  • Requires additional treatment due to inadequate analgesia or clinical suspicion of unsafe discharge secondary to pain after initial treatment with parenteral ketorolac

Who cannot join

  • Any individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
  • Age < 18 years
  • Use of analgesia for renal colic within 6 hours prior to clinician evaluation
  • Inability or unwillingness to consent for participation in study
  • Experienced a severe adverse event that required clinician intervention after initial treatment with parenteral ketorolac
  • Documented history of allergic or anaphylactic reaction to NSAIDs, lidocaine, or morphine
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Documented history of cardiac arrhythmias
  • Documented history of chronic use of opioid medications for unrelated diagnoses
  • Currently pregnant
  • Documented history of end-stage renal or hepatic dysfunction
  • Clinical contraindications to NSAIDs, lidocaine, or morphine per clinician discretion

Trial locations and contacts

No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Sarah Aly, DO, MSc contact

(909)558-7407

sarahaly@llu.edu

About this study

Official title: RELIEF-RC: Relief Efficacy of LIdocaine Versus morphinE For Acute Renal Colic in the Emergency Department

The opioid epidemic continues to be a major public health crisis in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control, approximately 8 million Americans reported misusing prescription opioids in 2023, with over 5 million Americans reporting that they suffer from opioid use disorder. The United States government estimates that 105,000 people died from drug overdose in 2023, and approximately 80,000 of those deaths can be attributed to opioids (~76%). In acknowledgement of the opioid crisis, we wish to contribute to ongoing efforts to reduce unnecessary and excessive opioid prescription.

In 2012, researchers in Iran published a randomized controlled trial comparing intravenous (IV) lidocaine to IV morphine for acute renal colic, reporting that 90% patients responded "successfully" in the lidocaine group versus 70% in the morphine group. They also concluded that there was a statistically significant difference between pain scores between the two groups at all time points, favoring the lidocaine group. However, the study was conducted at a single emergency department in Tabriz, Iran, with a relatively homogenous patient population, and the researchers did not explicitly define their primary outcome variable for what constituted a "successful" response in the treatment groups. The investigators of this study aim to build upon this preliminary evidence by recruiting a more diverse population to improve generalizability and by predefining pain-reduction thresholds to allow for more meaningful comparison between the interventions.

Read the detailed description

Purpose

● To determine whether IV lidocaine is more efficacious than IV morphine in decreasing or resolving acute renal colic pain refractory to initial treatment with parenteral ketorolac

Primary Objective ● To compare the efficacy of IV lidocaine versus IV morphine in achieving at least 50% reduction of pain score at 30 minutes for renal colic requiring rescue medication after initial treatment with parenteral ketorolac

Secondary Objectives

  • To compare reduction in pain scores at 15, 60, and 90 minutes between the two intervention groups;
  • To determine if there is a statistically significant difference in emergency department length of stay (ED LOS) between the two intervention groups
  • To determine if there is a statistically significant difference in need for further rescue medications between the two intervention groups
  • To determine the incidence of adverse effects between the two intervention groups
  • To evaluate whether there is a correlation between age and efficacy of treatment between the two intervention groups

Study Design This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial. Study participants will be randomized to receive either IV lidocaine or IV morphine if they fail initial standard treatment with parenteral ketorolac for suspected acute renal colic.

Study Date Range and Duration The estimated study period will be from 1/1/2026 to 12/31/2027.

The study will be carried out for two calendar years, and may be halted early when sufficient participant enrollment has occurred.

Number of Study Sites

  1. Loma Linda University Medical Center - Adult Emergency Department (Adult ED)
  2. Loma Linda University Medical Center - East Campus Advanced Urgent Care (AUC)

Primary Outcome Variables

● Response to treatment: pain assessment using a numeric rating scale (0 to 10) at 30 minutes

Secondary and Exploratory Outcome Variables

  • Response to treatment: pain assessment using a numeric rating scale (0 to 10) at 15, 60, and 90 minutes
  • Adverse events attributed to IV lidocaine or IV morphine
  • ED LOS
  • Need for additional rescue medications after either IV lidocaine or IV morphine

Study Population Study participants will be enrolled from patients who have suspected renal colic as determined by the treating clinician at the Loma Linda Adult ED or AUC.

Number of Participants This study seeks to enroll at least 248 patients over the study period, with at least 190 patients required to achieve a standard statistical power of 80%. Patients will be randomized into two groups - 124 patients per group.

Study Schedule All data and information, including consent and screening, will be gathered during the course of a patient's single visit at the Loma Linda Adult ED or AUC.

Being tested
Lidocaine, Morphine 0,1 mg/kg
Keywords
renal colic, kidney stones, lidocaine, opioid use
Medical subject headings
Renal Colic, Kidney Calculi, Urolithiasis

What participants receive

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

  • LidocaineDrug

    We hypothesize that IV lidocaine outperforms IV morphine at 30 minutes in achieving ≥ 50% reduction in pain score for renal colic that is refractory to initial treatment with parenteral ketorolac.

  • Morphine 0,1 mg/kgDrug

    We hypothesize that IV lidocaine outperforms IV morphine at 30 minutes in achieving ≥ 50% reduction in pain score for renal colic that is refractory to initial treatment with parenteral ketorolac.

Study groups in NCT07536594
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Lidocaine DripActive comparatorWeight-based dose of IV lidocaine will be 1.5 mg/kg, maximum 200 mg, delivered as IV infusion over 10 minutes
Receives: Drug: Lidocaine
Morphine, IV PushActive comparatorWeight-based IV morphine will be 0.1 mg/kg, maximum 10 mg, delivered as IV push.
Receives: Drug: Morphine 0,1 mg/kg

What is being measured

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

  1. Response to treatment

    Pain assessment using a numeric rating scale (0 to 10) at 30 minutes

    Measured: 30 minutes after completion of medication administration

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Response to treatment

    Pain assessment using a numeric rating scale (0 to 10) at 15, 60, and 90 minutes

    Measured: 15, 60, 90 minutes after completion of medication administration

  2. Adverse events

    Adverse events attributed to IV lidocaine or IV morphine

    Measured: From time of drug administration to time of patient disposition (admit, observation status, or discharge) in the emergency department, assessed up to 24 hours

  3. Emergency Department Length of Stay

    Measured: From time of patient registration in the emergency department to time of patient disposition (admit, observation status, or discharge) in the emergency department, assessed up to 24 hours

  4. Rescue medications

    Need for additional rescue medications after either IV lidocaine or IV morphine

    Measured: From time of drug administration to time of patient disposition (admit, observation status, or discharge) in the emergency department, assessed up to 24 hours

Timeline

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

  1. First posted17 Apr 2026
  2. Study startJun 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completionJun 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completionJun 2028 (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 N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
250 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07536594
Sponsor's protocol ID
5260095
Acronym
RELIEF-RC
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
4 Apr 2026
Last updated
17 Apr 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: For patient data protection; all recruitment is taking place at once facility. Deidentified patient data will be made available upon request.

Publications

  • Garnett MF, Minino AM. Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 2003-2023. NCHS Data Brief. 2024 Dec;(522):1. doi: 10.15620/cdc/170565.

    PubMed 40623710
  • Krieger A, Zaidan N, Zhao P, Borin JF, Goldfarb DS. Questionable role of opioids for analgesia in renal colic and its urological interventions. BJUI Compass. 2025 Jun 11;6(6):e70038. doi: 10.1002/bco2.70038. eCollection 2025 Jun.

    PubMed 40503371
  • Seyhan AU, Yilmaz E. Treatment of Renal Colic by Nerve Blockade with Lidocaine Versus Intravenous Dexketoprofen. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2021 Aug;31(8):921-925. doi: 10.29271/jcpsp.2021.08.921.

    PubMed 34320708
  • Motov S, Fassassi C, Drapkin J, Butt M, Hossain R, Likourezos A, Monfort R, Brady J, Rothberger N, Mann SS, Flom P, Gulati V, Marshall J. Comparison of intravenous lidocaine/ketorolac combination to either analgesic alone for suspected renal colic pain in the ED. Am J Emerg Med. 2020 Feb;38(2):165-172. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.01.048. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

    PubMed 30770244
  • Motamed H, Maleki Verki M. Intravenous Lidocaine Compared to Fentanyl in Renal Colic Pain Management; a Randomized Clinical Trial. Emerg (Tehran). 2017;5(1):e82. doi: 10.22037/emergency.v5i1.18894. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

    PubMed 29201964
  • Firouzian A, Alipour A, Rashidian Dezfouli H, Zamani Kiasari A, Gholipour Baradari A, Emami Zeydi A, Amini Ahidashti H, Montazami M, Hosseininejad SM, Yazdani Kochuei F. Does lidocaine as an adjuvant to morphine improve pain relief in patients presenting to the ED with acute renal colic? A double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Am J Emerg Med. 2016 Mar;34(3):443-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2015.11.062. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

    PubMed 26704774
  • Soleimanpour H, Hassanzadeh K, Vaezi H, Golzari SE, Esfanjani RM, Soleimanpour M. Effectiveness of intravenous lidocaine versus intravenous morphine for patients with renal colic in the emergency department. BMC Urol. 2012 May 4;12:13. doi: 10.1186/1471-2490-12-13.

    PubMed 22559856
  • Eaton SH, Cashy J, Pearl JA, Stein DM, Perry K, Nadler RB. Admission rates and costs associated with emergency presentation of urolithiasis: analysis of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample 2006-2009. J Endourol. 2013 Dec;27(12):1535-8. doi: 10.1089/end.2013.0205. Epub 2013 Nov 19.

    PubMed 24251430

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Lidocaine and Morphine 0,1 mg/kg in people with Renal Colic and Kidney Stones, Urolithiasis, Hypocitraturia, run by Loma Linda University.

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 11 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Apr 2026. 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. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

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 Sarah Aly, DO, MSc ((909)558-7407, sarahaly@llu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Response to treatment (time frame: 30 minutes after completion of medication administration). 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 NCT07536594, which also lists 8 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 17 Apr 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