Does Propranolol, a Beta Blocker, Attenuate Stress-Induced Drinking?

For this protocol, the investigators plan to conduct a pilot study evaluating the effect of propranolol on alcohol consumption. Using a parallel design, the investigators plan to randomize 20 non-treatment seeking adults with alcohol use disorders (DSM-5) to propranolol extended release (160mg/day or placebo; n=10 per cell) to evaluate whether propranolol reduces alcohol self-administered in the laboratory. Importantly, the investigators will evaluate whether propranolol counteracts stress-induced effects on alcohol self-administration. Following titration to steady state medication levels over a 2-week period, each subject will complete two laboratory sessions consisting of a well validated method for inducing stress or neutral/relaxing state (order counterbalanced), followed by a 2-hour alcohol self-administration paradigm known to be sensitive to medication effects.

Study Overview

• Status: Suspended
• Conditions: Alcohol Drinking
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Propranolol; Drug: Placebo

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
      • Yale University School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 21-65
2. Able to read and write English
3. Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for current (past 6 months) alcohol use disorders
4. Able to take oral medications and willing to adhere to medication regimen

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participants with any significant current medical conditions.
2. Women who are pregnant or nursing, or fail to use one of the following methods of birth control unless she or partner is surgically sterile or she is postmenopausal (hormone contraceptives [oral, implant, injection, patch, or ring], contraceptive sponge, double barrier [diaphragm or condom plus spermicide], or IUD)
3. Suicidal, homicidal or evidence of current (past 6-month) mental illness.
4. Specific exclusions for administration of propranolol not already specified.
5. Subjects likely to exhibit clinically significant alcohol withdrawal during the study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Propranolol; Propranolol extended release (160mg/day). Administered orally once daily at 10:00PM. Titration schedule Days 1-3 60mg, Days 4-7 80mg, Days 8-11 120mg, and Days 12-14 160mg until steady state.	Drug: Propranolol; Propranolol Extended Release (160mg/day).
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Administered orally once daily at 10:00PM	Drug: Placebo; Placebo pill administered orally.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Alcohol consumption	Mean mls of alcohol consumed (maximum of 120 mg/dL) for propranolol and placebo groups during 120 minute alcohol self administration sessions taking place as close to Day 15 and Day 19 as possible of medication dosing.	120 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Collaborators: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Sherry McKee, PhD, Professor

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 15, 2018
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 3, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 13, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): July 17, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Drinking Behavior; Behavior; Alcohol Drinking; Organic Chemicals; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Naphthalenes; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Polycyclic Compounds; Amines; Alcohols; Phenoxypropanolamines; Propanolamines; Amino Alcohols; Propanols; Propranolol
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2000022090; R01AA022285 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); 1U54AA027989-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); 2U54AA027989 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

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