PK PD of the Enantiomers of Tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol in Elderly and Young Subjects

Comparative, Randomized, Double-Blind, Single-Dose, 2-way Crossover Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics and Analgesic Effect of Labopharm Tramadol Contramid® OAD 200 mg Tablets or Placebo in Healthy Young and Elderly Adult Volunteers

This study evaluates the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the enantiomers of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol (ODM) in generally healthy young and elderly adults. Using a randomised, double-blind, crossover design, participants were administered a single 200mg tramadol extended-release tablet and placebo.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain; Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Tramadol extended release 200 mg; Behavioral: CP/T; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

The pharmacokinetics of the enantiomers of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol (ODM) have not been extensively studied in elderly patients. Given the importance of hepatic function in the metabolism of tramadol into the more potent ODM metabolite and the fact that tramadol is primarily renally excreted, age-related changes in hepatic and renal function may affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tramadol. Data on the pharmacokinetics of tramadol, the ODM metabolite and their enantiomers will provide important information as to the source of any differences in the metabolism or elimination of Tramadol Contramid® OAD in the elderly as compared to younger subjects. Differences in the PK of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol could result in differences in Pharmacodynamics of tramadol, specifically in analgesic effect. An Electrically Stimulated Pain Model was used to evaluate any differences in current perception and pain tolerance between the age groups.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 35
• Phase: Phase 1

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy adult male or female volunteers, 18-40 years of age.
• Adult male or female volunteers aged 75 years or more
• Subjects with a BMI less than 35 kg/m2.
• Generally healthy, elderly subjects with mild renal impairment (creatinine clearance 50-80 mL/min or glomerular filtration rate ≥ 50 mL/min/1.73 m2) or mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class A)
• Medically stable healthy subjects with non-clinically significant laboratory profiles, vital signs and ECGs.
• Subjects will be non-smokers for at least 3 months prior to the first dose or consistent moderate smokers (fewer than 10 cigarettes per day) for at least 3 months prior to the first dose.
• Females of childbearing potential must be using medically acceptable birth control methods
• Voluntary written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• History or presence of significant unstable or untreated cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, hematologic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, immunologic, dermatologic, neurologic, or psychiatric disease.
• alcoholism or drug abuse within the past year;
• previous or current opioid dependency or other substance abuse or dependence, other than nicotine;
• hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reaction to tramadol hydrochloride, codeine, opioids or other synthetic opioids of the aminocyclohexanol group;
• seizures (other than infantile febrile seizures);
• significant head trauma.
• Subjects who tested positive at screening for HIV, HBsAg or HCV.
• Subjects whose sitting blood pressure is less than 110/60 mmHg at screening or prior to dosing.
• Subjects whose pulse is lower than 55 b.p.m. at screening or prior to dosing for young subjects or less than 60 b.p.m at screening or prior to dosing for the elderly subjects.
• Subjects who have used any drugs or substances known to be strong inhibitors of CYP enzymes (formerly known as cytochrome P450 enzymes) within 10 days prior to the first dose.
• Subjects who have used any drugs or substances known to be strong inducers of CYP enzymes (formerly known as cytochrome P450 enzymes) within 28 days prior to the first dose.
• Subjects who are revealed upon genotyping to be CYP2D6 poor metabolisers.
• Subjects who have received monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or antidepressants (tricyclic or SSRIs), within 28 days prior to the first dose.
• Subjects who have received drugs belonging to the opioids/analgesic class, within 5 elimination half-lives prior to the first dose.
• Subjects who have received coumarin derivatives (e.g warfarin) or digoxin, within 28 days prior to the first dose.
• Subjects who have received CNS depressant drugs (such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, sedative H1 antihistamines, neuroleptics, some beta-blockers, anxiolytics other than benzodiazepines), tricyclic compounds (such as cyclobenzaprine, promethazine), drugs increasing serotonin levels or thalidomide within 5 elimination half-lives prior to the first dose.
• Subjects with significant liver disease (Child-Pugh Score greater than or equal to 7).
• Significant renal disease as determined by the Cockcroft-Gault formula
• Bowel disease affecting absorption.
• Major illness requiring hospitalization during the last 3 months prior to the first dose.
• Previous failure of treatment with tramadol or discontinuation of treatment with tramadol due to adverse events.
• Subjects who have been on a special diet (for whatever reason) during the 28 days prior to the first dose and throughout the study.
• Subjects who have any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, makes the subject unsuitable for the study.
• Subjects who donated significant amounts of blood in the last year
• Subjects who have participated in another clinical trial within 28 days prior to the first dose.
• Subjects who are unable to tolerate the training for the ESEPM.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
• Masking: QUADRUPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Tramadol extended release and CP/T; Tramadol extended release: 200mg Single-dose, extended-release, once-daily, tablet; Current Perception and Tolerance (CP/T)	Drug: Tramadol extended release 200 mg; Tramadol extended release 200 mg: Administration of a single 200mg tramadol extended-release tablet; Other Names: Tramadol Contramid 200 mg extended-release; Behavioral: CP/T; Subjects were evaluated for perception and tolerance of electrical current. An experimentally induced pain model utilizing electrical stimulation from the FDA approved Neurometer, as the painful stimulus was used to assess Current Perception Threshold and Pain Tolerance Threshold (CP/T) in young and elderly subjects following administration of tramadol and of placebo.; Other Names: Electrically stimulated experimental pain model (ESEPM)
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo and CP/T; Single-dose, placebo identical in appearance to an extended release once-daily tablet; Current Perception and Tolerance (CP/T)	Behavioral: CP/T; Subjects were evaluated for perception and tolerance of electrical current. An experimentally induced pain model utilizing electrical stimulation from the FDA approved Neurometer, as the painful stimulus was used to assess Current Perception Threshold and Pain Tolerance Threshold (CP/T) in young and elderly subjects following administration of tramadol and of placebo.; Other Names: Electrically stimulated experimental pain model (ESEPM); Drug: Placebo; Administration of a single placebo tablet identical in appearance to a 200mg tramadol extended-release tablet; Other Names: sugar pill

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To characterise and compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of AUC 0-t, AUCinf, Cmax, tmax, t½, CL/F, Varea/F, Ae 0 48, Rmax and CLr for the enantiomers of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol in young and elderly subjects	To characterise and compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of AUC 0-t, AUCinf, Cmax, tmax, t½, CL/F, Varea/F, Ae 0 48, Rmax and CLr for the enantiomers of tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol in healthy adult young and elderly subjects. Plasma samples were taken at 16 timepoints throughout 48 hours and evaluated for plasma concentrations of (+)- and (-)- tramadol	48 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
To characterise and compare threshold of current perception in young and elderly subjects	Healthy adult young and elderly subjects were tested to determine the milliamperes of current that resulted in perception of an electrical stimulus in the non-dominant forefinger at 15 timepoints throughout 30 hours using an electrically stimulated pain model after treatment with active drug and placebo with random assignment of treatment sequence (placebo then tramadol or tramadol then placebo)	30 hours
To characterise and compare threshold of pain tolerance in young and elderly subjects	Healthy adult young and elderly subjects were tested to determine the milliamperes of current they were willing to tolerate at 15 timepoints throughout 30 hours using an electrically stimulated pain model after treatment with active drug and placebo with random assignment of treatment sequence (placebo then tramadol or tramadol then placebo)	30 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Université de Montréal
• Collaborators: Labopharm Inc.; MDS Pharma Services
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: France Varin, BPharm, PhD, Université de Montréal

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Robertson SS, Mouksassi MS, Varin F. Population Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modeling of O-Desmethyltramadol in Young and Elderly Healthy Volunteers. Drugs Aging. 2019 Aug;36(8):747-758. doi: 10.1007/s40266-019-00681-w.
• Skinner-Robertson S, Fradette C, Bouchard S, Mouksassi MS, Varin F. Pharmacokinetics of Tramadol and O-Desmethyltramadol Enantiomers Following Administration of Extended-Release Tablets to Elderly and Young Subjects. Drugs Aging. 2015 Dec;32(12):1029-43. doi: 10.1007/s40266-015-0315-4.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): February 1, 2007
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): February 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 19, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2014
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): December 31, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): December 31, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2014
• Last Verified: December 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pharmacokinetics; Opioid; Pharmacodynamics; Geriatric
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics, Opioid; Narcotics; Tramadol
• Other Study ID Numbers: MDT1-20