Prescription Medication Interactions

October 14, 2025 updated by: Sharon Walsh

Prescription Medications: Pharmacodynamics and Interaction Effects

This study will examine the effects of doses of opioid/placebo and doses of sedative/placebo, alone and in combination. The primary outcomes are related to pharmacodynamic measures (subjective ratings of drug liking and other abuse-related effects; physiological outcomes) to determine the interaction effects of these compounds.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Gabapentin and oxycodone are commonly used in combination for the treatment of chronic pain. Gabapentin is now widely misused/abused with studies indicating that gabapentin abuse is especially common among individuals with opioid misuse. The nature of gabapentin's abuse-related effects have been described in case reports and online as sedative-like and opioid-like, with descriptive reports including sedation, euphoria, talkativeness and increased energy. Despite their widespread co-administration both for licit and illicit purposes, no controlled psychopharmacological studies to our knowledge have directly examined the effects of oxycodone (or another opioid agonist) and gabapentin in combination. This study's objective is to characterize the subjective effect profile of gabapentin, examine the interaction between gabapentin and oxycodone, and assess the acute analgesic response to gabapentin and oxycodone, alone and in combination, across a range of doses for each drug.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
11

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Kentucky
      • Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40508
        • Center on Drug and Alcohol Research

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 55 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy adults, ages 18-55
  • Current non-medical use of opioids and sedatives

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Physical dependence on opioids, alcohol, or benzodiazepines/sedatives/hypnotics
  • Seeking treatment for drug use
  • Significant medical problems

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo / Placebo
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.
Experimental: Placebo / Oxycodone 20mg
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.
Experimental: Placebo / Oxycodone 40mg
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.
Experimental: Gabapentin 600mg / Placebo
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.
Experimental: Gabapentin 1200mg / Placebo
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.
Experimental: Gabapentin 600mg / Oxycodone 20mg
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.
Experimental: Gabapentin 1200mg / Oxycodone 20mg
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.
Experimental: Gabapentin 600mg / Oxycodone 40mg
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.
Experimental: Gabapentin 1200mg / Oxycodone 40mg
Participants will receive non-therapeutic experimental doses of gabapentin (600 and 1200 mg, p.o.), alone and in combination with oxycodone (20 and 40 mg, p.o.). The experimental sessions are designed to capture the time-action curves for the test drugs (Tmax for gabapentin ≈ 2.5 hr; oxycodone ≈ 1.5 hr). Therefore, oxycodone will be administered 1 hr after gabapentin to align peak responses.
Drug: Opioid Agonist
Abuse liability evaluation.
Drug: Sedatives
Abuse liability evaluation.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Subject-Rated Outcome: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Drug Liking
Time Frame: This outcome was recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).
Participants rated their subjective drug liking on a standardized VAS scale (0 to 100). Raw data transformed to peak scores. Higher scores indicate greater drug effects.
This outcome was recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Subject-Rated Outcome: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Drug Effect
Time Frame: This outcome was recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).
Participants rated their subjective drug effect on a standardized VAS scale (0 to 100). Raw data transformed to peak scores. Higher scores indicate greater drug effects.
This outcome was recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).
Change in Respiration Rate
Time Frame: Respiration rate was recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).
Respiration rate (number of breaths per minute). Raw data transformed to trough scores. Lower scores indicate greater impairment.
Respiration rate was recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).
Change in End-tidal Carbon Dioxide (EtCO2)
Time Frame: EtCO2 recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).
EtCO2 collected via capnograph monitored throughout each session. Raw data transformed to peak scores. Higher scores indicate greater impairment.
EtCO2 recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).
Change in Oxygen Saturation
Time Frame: Oxygen saturation recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).
Oxygen saturation (measured as a percentage through pulse ox) monitored throughout each session. Raw data transformed to trough scores. Lower scores indicate greater impairment.
Oxygen saturation recorded prior to and in regular intervals after drug administration for the duration of the session (approx. 8 hours per session).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Sharon Walsh

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sharon L Walsh, Ph.D., University of Kentucky

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 25, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 6, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 6, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
March 17, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
March 17, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
March 19, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 20, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 14, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 46591
  • R01DA016718 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

We have no plans to share individual participant data with other researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings