Open-Label Disulfiram for Methamphetamine Dependence

Open-Label Pilot Study of Disulfiram for Methamphetamine Dependence

This 8 week, open-label pilot clinical trial will examine the safety and tolerability of disulfiram at 250 mg/day in up to fifteen methamphetamine dependent individuals. After undergoing screening procedures (approximately one week), eligible subjects will enter the study proper attend clinic every weekday during week 1 of the trial in order to receive the disulfiram under observation and complete assessments. Then subjects will receive weekly blister packs of medication and attend clinic thrice weekly during weeks 2-6. During weeks 7-8, subjects no longer take disulfiram, are followed for two weeks, then referred to treatment elsewhere, if desired. Urine samples will be obtained and a disulfiram side-effects checklist will be completed thrice-weekly. Self-reported drug use, craving and mood ratings will be completed weekly. All subjects undergo cognitive behavioral therapy. Adjunctive contingency management procedures will be utilized to enhance retention. The primary outcomes of interest include retention, side-effects, and drug use. Our hypothesis is that disulfiram will be well tolerated in this population.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Methamphetamine Dependence
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Disulfiram

Detailed Description

This 8 week, open-label pilot clinical trial will examine the safety and tolerability of disulfiram at 250 mg/day in up to fifteen methamphetamine dependent individuals. After undergoing screening procedures (approximately one week), eligible subjects will enter the study proper attend clinic every weekday during week 1 of the trial in order to receive the disulfiram under observation and complete assessments. Then subjects will receive weekly blister packs of medication and attend clinic thrice weekly during weeks 2-6. During weeks 7-8, subjects no longer take disulfiram, are followed for two weeks, then referred to treatment elsewhere, if desired. Urine samples will be obtained and a disulfiram side-effects checklist will be completed thrice-weekly. Self-reported drug use, craving and mood ratings will be completed weekly. All subjects undergo cognitive behavioral therapy. Adjunctive contingency management procedures will be utilized to enhance retention. The primary outcomes of interest include retention, side-effects, and drug use. Results of this study will provide initial safety and drug use data for grant applications proposing to examine the clinical efficacy of disulfiram or similar agents to for treating methamphetamine dependence under placebo-controlled, double-blind conditions.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arkansas
    • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72205
      • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-65 years old
• not currently enrolled in a treatment program
• subjects must have a history of methamphetamine use with recent use confirmed by a positive urine toxicology screen for amphetamines during the month prior to study entry
• subjects must meet DSM-IV criteria for amphetamine dependence as assessed by the substance abuse section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)
• women of childbearing age must have a negative pregnancy test to enroll in this study, agree to monthly pregnancy testing, and agree to use appropriate forms of birth control for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• current diagnosis of alcohol physical dependence
• significant medical conditions such as abnormal liver function (e.g., laboratory findings on ALT or AST greater than three times normal), active hepatitis, uncontrolled hypertension, a current cardiac condition or high risk of cardiovascular disease (see section c.1), seizure disorders, or another significant underlying medical condition which would contraindicate disulfiram treatment
• meeting DSM-IV psychiatric classifications for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychotic disorders
• exhibiting current suicidality or homicidality
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• current use of a prescribed psychotropic medication (e.g., antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, etc.) which cannot be discontinued
• current use of medications such as anticoagulants, isoniazid, metronidazole, clotrimazole, and paraldehyde

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Disulfiram; Disulfiram at 250 mg daily	Drug: Disulfiram; 250 mg/day; Other Names: Antabuse

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Side Effects Checklist	It consists of 25 items describing side effects specific to disulfiram alone or combined with alcohol or cocaine that are rated on a scale from 0 (not at all) to 4 (very much). Total scores range from 0 (minimum) to 100 (maximum). Data were entered into a mixed model ANOVA in order to determine whether scores significantly changed over time. A slope and standard deviation describing this change over time were generated and used as our outcome measures.	Weekly for six weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of Amphetamine-positive Urine Samples	the proportion of urine samples positive for amphetamine. Data were entered into a mixed model ANOVA in order to determine whether scores significantly changed over time. A slope and standard deviation describing this change over time were generated and used as our outcome measures.	thrice weekly for 6 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Arkansas

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2008
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 6, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): August 8, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 27, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 20, 2012
• Last Verified: January 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: open label; disulfiram; methamphetamine dependence
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Alcohol Deterrents; Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitors; Disulfiram
• Other Study ID Numbers: 5-P50-DA018197-105242; DPMCDA (Other Identifier: NIDA); 5P50DA018197 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)