Status:

COMPLETED

Oxytocin Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal

Lead Sponsor:

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Conditions:

Alcohol Withdrawal

Eligibility:

All Genders

18-65 years

Phase:

PHASE1

Brief Summary

Purpose: Test whether intranasal administration of the neuropeptide, oxytocin, is effective in decreasing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, the number of bouts of withdrawal requiring standard medication t...

Detailed Description

Study Design: This will be a double-blind, placebo controlled comparison of the efficacy of twice daily intranasal administration of oxytocin and placebo (saline) in reducing alcohol withdrawal sympto...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Daily consumption of 6 or more alcohol drinks/day for at least 2 weeks prior to admission.
  • Only one of the following two conditions must be met:
  • At least one prior episode 2 days or longer in duration which the subject experienced withdrawal symptoms that caused significant incapacitation.
  • At least one prior inpatient or outpatient medical detoxification during which the subject exhibited withdrawal symptoms that sedative-hypnotic or anticonvulsant medication was required at least once on 2 consecutive days after cessation of or reduction in the use of alcohol following 2 weeks or more of heavily daily consumption (6 or more drinks/day).

Exclusion

  • Low literacy as indicated by an inability to read and understand the consent form.
  • Dependence on substances other than alcohol, nicotine, caffeine or cannabis.
  • History of alcohol withdrawal-related seizures, delirium tremens or hallucinations.
  • Current or past alcohol-related medical complications (e.g. cirrhosis of the liver, esophageal varices, severe gastritis, hemoptysis, hematochezia or melena).
  • Current delirium, disorientation to place or persons, seizures, acute or unstable psychosis or mania.
  • Suicidal or homicidal ideation with strong intent, plans or recent attempt.
  • Debilitating medical conditions (including AIDS, seizure disorder, emphysema, cancer and not well-controlled diabetes/hypertension) \[HIV infection, diabetes, hypertension and asthma will not be grounds for exclusion\]
  • Diagnosis of amnesia, dementia, cognitive impairment or significant neurological symptoms.
  • Low body weight (BMI\<17).
  • History of anorexia nervosa or bulimia in the past 2 years.
  • Significant trauma, self injurious behavior or surgery in the previous 2 months
  • Pregnancy; giving birth or breast-feeding in the past 6 months.
  • Ingestion during the 2 weeks prior to this admission of much more alcohol/day than during previous drinking binges that preceded the onset of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
  • Ingestion of more than 450 ml of alcohol/day.
  • Chronic treatment with benzodiazepines, barbiturates, anticonvulsants or stimulants
  • Treatment/ingestion in the 72 hours prior to enrollment in the study with long half-life benzodiazepines or sedative hypnotic drugs.
  • A blood alcohol level upon admission \> 300 mg/dl.
  • Well-documented history of inadequately treated baseline hypertension or tachycardia (SBP\>150 or DBP\>100 or P\>110).

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

July 1 2010

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ACTUAL

End Date :

March 1 2011

Estimated Enrollment :

14 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT01212185

Start Date

July 1 2010

End Date

March 1 2011

Last Update

May 13 2014

Active Locations (2)

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Page 1 of 1 (2 locations)

1

University of North Carolina Hospitals

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599

2

Central Regional Hospital

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, 27603