Effects of Levetiracetam (Keppra) on Alcohol Consumption

August 12, 2020 updated by: University of California, San Francisco

Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial of Levetiracetam on Ethanol Intake

The overall goals of this study are to (1) expand knowledge about interactions of levetiracetam with alcohol by assessing the effects of levetiracetam compared to placebo in moderate and heavy social alcohol users and (2) to test the AccuswayTM platform as a tool to measure postural control (which has been used as a marker of intoxication) and the effects of levetiracetam on postural control.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The investigators propose a 42-day, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in light to moderate and heavy alcohol users who are social drinkers.

The specific aims are to:

  1. Determine if levetiracetam alters daily alcohol consumption by comparing the mean drinks consumed per day during levetiracetam administration compared with the mean drinks per day consumed during placebo administration.
  2. Obtain blood that will be banked for future genetic analysis of polymorphisms in genes that may predict the level of response to alcohol or effects of levetiracetam on alcohol consumption.
  3. Test whether the AccuswayTM platform can detect changes in body sway in light to moderate or heavy social drinkers and in subjects taking levetiracetam versus placebo.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

46

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Berkeley, California, United States, 94705
        • Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute- CRC

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

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Healthy adults who are social drinkers 21 and 50 years of age.
  2. Moderate to heavy social drinkers (women=7-21 drinks/week, men=7-25 drinks/week).
  3. Body Mass Index (BMI)>18 and <30.
  4. If female, must be non-lactating, not pregnant, and using a reliable contraception method (i.e. abstinence, intrauterine device [IUD], hormonal birth control, or double barrier method [male condom, female condom, or diaphragm plus a spermicidal agent such as contraceptive foam, jelly or cream]).
  5. Able and willing to provide written informed consent.
  6. Able to understand and follow the instructions of the investigator, and understand all rating scales.
  7. Have a negative urine drug screen at all visits, with the exception of cannabinoids.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Positive urine drug screen, except cannabinoids. Occasional cannabinoid use is allowed, however daily use, dependence, or if considered more than a casual user by study physician, subject will be excluded.
  2. Use of cocaine, amphetamines or other stimulants, hallucinogens, ecstasy or other psychoactive drugs, greater than 10 times in the last 24 months or at anytime in the past 60 days.
  3. Lifetime use of PCP or ketamine greater than 10 times, or at any time in the last 24 months.
  4. History of abusing inhalants (such as glue, toluene or other volatile substances).
  5. Current or past dependence on, or addiction to any psychoactive drug (except nicotine or caffeine) including alcohol, as determined by the study physician's assessment.
  6. Current or prior enrollment in an alcohol or other drug treatment program, or current legal problems relating to alcohol or other drug use, including awaiting trial or supervision by a parole or probation officer.
  7. Binge drinking more than three times per week (binge defined as >5 standard drinks in one session).
  8. Alcohol consumption >21 drinks/week for women and >25 drinks/week for men.
  9. Currently trying to quit alcohol and/or recreational drug use.
  10. Positive for lifetime abnormal opioid use or prescription drug abuse.
  11. Clinically significant medical or psychiatric illness (including anxiety or panic disorders) as determined by screening blood tests, medical history, and physical exam performed or reviewed by the study physician.
  12. Bilirubin more than 2 times the normal upper limit.
  13. AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), or alkaline phosphatase more than 2 times the normal upper limit.
  14. Body Mass Index >30 or <18
  15. Pregnancy or a woman of child bearing potential not currently using an adequate means of contraception.
  16. Currently taking any medication other than over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, acetaminophen, inhaled asthma therapy, contraceptives, nicotine patches, and over-the-counter non-sedating antihistamines.NSAIDs, acetaminophen, or any other OTC (including herbal) medication (unless cleared by study physician).
  17. BAC level greater than 0.02% at the beginning of visits 1, 7, or 8 (within margin of error for detection).
  18. Estimated creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min.
  19. Chronic pain condition requiring regular physician visits and treatment under a physician's supervision.
  20. Neurological dysfunction or psychiatric disorder severe enough to interfere with assessment of outcome measures as defined above.
  21. Allergy to levetiracetam.
  22. Significant cardiac pathology or abnormal initial EKG with QT/QTc interval prolongation > 480 m secs at baseline.
  23. Has received an investigational drug within 30 days prior to Study Visit 2 (after screening visit).
  24. Subjects who are unable to read or speak English.
  25. Those, in the opinion of the investigator, who are considered unable to adhere to scheduled appointments, unlikely to comply with the study protocol, or who are unsuitable for any other reason.

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: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group A
Twenty moderate to heavy social alcohol users will receive 250 mg of levetiracetam BID (500 mg/day) or placebo x 7 days and will be titrated to a maximum dose of 500 mg of levetiracetam BID (1,000 mg/day) x 7 days.
Drug: Placebo
Drug: Levetiracetam (Keppra)

Group A: Twenty moderate to heavy social alcohol users will receive 250 mg of levetiracetam BID (500 mg/day) or placebo x 7 days and will be titrated to a maximum dose of 500 mg of levetiracetam BID (1,000 mg/day) x 7 days.

Group B: Twenty moderate to heavy social alcohol users will receive 500 mg levetiracetam BID (1000 mg/day) or placebo x 7 days and will be titrated to a maximum dose of 1000 mg levetiracetam BID (2,000 mg per day) x 7 days.

Other Names:
  • Keppra
Experimental: Group B
Twenty moderate to heavy social alcohol users will receive 500 mg levetiracetam BID (1000 mg/day) or placebo x 7 days and will be titrated to a maximum dose of 1000 mg levetiracetam BID (2,000 mg per day) x 7 days.
Drug: Placebo
Drug: Levetiracetam (Keppra)

Group A: Twenty moderate to heavy social alcohol users will receive 250 mg of levetiracetam BID (500 mg/day) or placebo x 7 days and will be titrated to a maximum dose of 500 mg of levetiracetam BID (1,000 mg/day) x 7 days.

Group B: Twenty moderate to heavy social alcohol users will receive 500 mg levetiracetam BID (1000 mg/day) or placebo x 7 days and will be titrated to a maximum dose of 1000 mg levetiracetam BID (2,000 mg per day) x 7 days.

Other Names:
  • Keppra

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Standard Alcoholic Drinks Per Treatment Period
Time Frame: During each 14 day treatment period
The primary outcome of this study is to determine the effect of levetiracetam on alcohol consumption as measured by change in # of drinks during each treatment period.
During each 14 day treatment period

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Collaborators

United States Department of Defense
University of California

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Robert O. Messing, M.D., UCSF; Department of Neurology; Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center
  • Principal Investigator: Jennifer M. Mitchell, Ph.D., UCSF; Department of Neurology; Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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

November 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 6, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 22, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

July 23, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 28, 2020

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 12, 2020

Last Verified

August 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • H1815-29512-02
  • W81XWH-05-1-0215 (Other Grant/Funding Number: US Dept. of the Army)

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.

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