Clinical trial NCT04052139
Conditions: Chronic Pain Alcohol Use, Unspecified HIV Infections
Keywords: Pain Alcohol HIV Inflammation Low-dose naltrexone Gabapentin
Sponsor: Boston Medical Center
Start date: 2021-01-25; Completion date: 2021-12-15
Enrollment: 45 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
This study is a 3-arm pilot, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of low-dose naltrexone and gabapentin versus placebo among HIV-positive persons with heavy alcohol use and chronic pain to provide estimates of their effects on 1) pain; 2) inflammation; and 3) measures of HIV control. Participants will be followed for 12 weeks. Assessments of study outcomes will be compared at week 8 (end of treatment phase).

Detailed description:
Pain is a common co-morbidity for HIV-positive patients.Prevalence studies suggest that, on average, half of all HIV-positive persons suffer pain. Chronic pain can lead to heavy alcohol use among HIV-positive persons, which may in turn be a barrier to treatment/control of HIV and contribute to spread of HIV. Thus there is an urgent need to address pain among persons with HIV. It is timely and relevant to conduct research on gabapentin, as it has emerged as one of the most commonly prescribed non-opioid medications for pain despite the fact that gabapentin is only FDA approved for "post-herpetic neuralgia" and the literature to support its use for generalized chronic pain is limited. And yet, gabapentin has demonstrated benefits for treatment of alcohol use disorder, and therefore, like naltrexone, it could have a specific role for treating patients with chronic pain and unhealthy alcohol use. This study is a 3-arm pilot, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of low-dose naltrexone and gabapentin vs. placebo among HIV-positive persons with heavy alcohol use and chronic pain to provide estimates of their effects on 1) pain (both self-reported and experimental/cold pressor test; 2) inflammation (i.e., levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α); and 3) measures of HIV control (CD4 count and viral load).

Arms: arm 1: Participants randomized to this group will receive low dose naltrexone (4.5 mg) for 8 weeks. arm 2: Participants randomized to the gabapentin arm begin on a dose of 300 mg daily (300 mg qd). In week 2, participants will take 300 mg of gabapentin three times daily. In week 3 the dose will be titrated up to 1800 mg daily (300 mg+300 mg tid) will remain on the dose until week 8, when they will be tapered back down to 900 mg daily (300 mg tid). In week 8, in days 1-4 participants will take 1800 mg daily (300 mg+300 mg tid); in days 5-7, participants will take 900 mg daily (300 mg of gabapentin three times daily). arm 3: Participants will receive a placebo to be taken three times daily for 8 weeks.
Interventions: intervention 1: Low-dose naltrexone intervention 2: Gabapentin intervention 3: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 4.5 mg of low dose naltrexone taken once daily for 8 weeks. In week 1, participants will take 4.5mg of naltrexone once daily. In week 2, participants will take 4.5mg of naltrexone once daily, and a placebo capsule twice daily. In weeks 3 through 7, participants will take 1 placebo capsule with 4.5 mg mg of naltrexone once daily, and 2 placebo capsules twice daily. In week 8, in days 1-4 participants will take 4.5 mg of naltrexone with a placebo capsule once daily and 2 placebo capsules twice daily; in days 5-7, participants will take 4.5 mg of naltrexone once daily, and a placebo capsule twice daily. intervention 2: Dose will begin at 300 mg daily (300 mg qd), in week 2 the dose will be titrated up to 900 mg daily (300 mg tid). In week 3, the dose will be titrated to 1800 mg daily ( 2 capsules of 300 mg tid) and participants will remain on that dose until week 8. In week 8, in days 1-4 participants will take 1800 mg daily (300 mg+300 mg tid); in days 5-7, participants will take 900 mg daily (300 mg of gabapentin three times daily). intervention 3: In week 1, participants will take 1 placebo capsule once daily. In week 2, participants will take 1 placebo capsule three times per day. In weeks 3 through 7, 2 placebo capsules three times per day. In week 8, in days 1-4 participants will take 2 placebo capsules three times per day; in days 5-7, participants will take 1 placebo capsule three times per day. The placebo medications will be composed of lactose and will not contain active ingredients.

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_001.pdf: 
Page 1 of 44 
 
 
STUDY PROTOCOL 
Pilot Study of an Opioid-receptor Antagonist 
and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and 
Inflammation among HIV-Infected Persons 
with Alcohol Problems – UH3 Component 
Principal Investigators:  
  Jeffrey H. Samet, MD, MA, MPH – Boston Medical Center (contact)  
  Judith I. Tsui, MD, MPH – University of Washington Department of Medicine 
 
 
 
 NIAAA Award Number: UH3AA026193  
 Clinicaltrials.gov Registration: NCT04052139  
 Boston University Medical Campus IRB Protocol Number: H-39162 
 Protocol Version: March 24th,  2021 
Statistical Plan page 40 
 
 
 


Page 2 of 44 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
1. INTRODUCTION 
  # 
1.1 SUMMARY…………………………………………………………………..………………….5  
2. OVERVIEW OF STUDY DESIGN 
 
2.1 STUDY AIMS ............................................................................................................................... 5  
2.2 STUDY OUTCOMES………………………………………………………………………..........6 
2.3 STUDY DESIGN …………………………………………………………………………………6 
2.4 STUDY SITE…………………………………………………………………..……………..…..7 
2.5 INCLUSION CRITERIA……………………………………………………..…………………....8 
2.6 EXCLUSION CRITERIA AT STUDY ENTRY…………………………………………..………….8 
2.7 RECRUITMENT GOALS……………………………………………….………………...………9 
2.7.A. SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATION AND POWER…………………………………………..9 
3. INTERVENTION 
 
3.1 INTERVENTION OVERVIEW……………………………………………………………………10 
3.2 RANDOMIZATION………...……………………………………….……………………………11 
3.3 INTERVENTION………………………………………………….…………………………..….11 
3.3.A. NALTREXONE……………………………. …………………………………………12 
3.3.B. GABAPENTIN..…………………………. …………………………………………...13 
3.3.C PLACEBO…………………………………………………………………………….14 
3.4 MEDICATION CONSIDERATIONS ………………………………………..…………………...…15 
3.4.A. SYMPTOM MONITORING……………………………. ……………………………….15 
3.4.B. ADHERENCE…………..……………………………. ……………………………….16 
3.4.C. MEDICATION DISBURSEMENT………………………. ………………………………16 
3.4.D. LOST OR STOLEN STUDY MEDICATION…..…………. ……………………….……...18 
3.4.E. DISCONTINUATION OF STUDY MEDICATION……..…. ………………………………18 
3.5 SCHEDULE OF DATA COLLECTION.………………………………………..….……………….19 
3.5.A. VISIT WINDOWS……….……………………………. ………………………………19 
3.6 DATA SOURCES……………………………………………………………..….……………..…21 
3.6.A. QUESTIONNAIRES……….………………………….…. ……………………………21 
3.6.B. URINE……….……………………………. ……………………………………….. 21 
3.6.C. BLOOD..…….……………………………. …………………………………………21 
3.6.D. COLD-PRESSOR TESTING..…….…………..…………………………………………22 
3.6.E. DAILY PAIN DIARY..…….…………..……………….……………………………….22 
4. STUDY PROCEDURES 
 
4.1 RECRUITMENT………………………………………….…………………..….……………….22 
4.2 SCREENING……………….…………………………….…………………..….……………..…22 
4.3 INFORMED CONSENT……………….………………….…………………..….……….……..…23 
4.4 VISIT FLOW……………….…………………………….…………………..….……………..…24 
4.5 QUALITY ASSURANCE……………….…………………………….…………..……………..….25 
4.6 COMPENSATION……………….…………………………….…………………..….……………25 
4.7 RETENTION……………….…………………………….…………………..….…………………25 
5. ASSESSMENTS 
 
5.1 BASELINE ASSESSMENT………………………………………….…………….……………...…26 
5.2 FOLLOW-UP ASSESSMENTS……………………………………….…………….……….….....…27 


Page 3 of 44 
 
5.2.A. MEDICATION VISITS ASSESSMENTS..……. …………………..………………….…….27 
6. PARTICIPANT SAFETY 
 
6.1 SPECIFICATION OF SAFETY PARAMETERS……………………...…………….………….…..…28 
6.2 THE METHODS AND TIME FOR ASSESSING, RECORDING, AND ANALYZING SAFETY  
PARAMETERS..…………………………………………………………………………………..…..29 
6.3 PROCEDURES FOR ELICITING REPORTS OF AND FOR RECORDING AND REPORTING ADVERSE  
EVENT AND INTERCURRENT ILLNESSES…………………………...…………….……………..….30 
6.3.A. OTHER EVENTS…………………...……. …………………..……………………….31 
6.3.B. ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING….....……. …………………..………………………..32 
6.3.C. SAE REPORTING….....……. ………………………………..………………………...33 
6.4 THE TYPE AND DURATION OF THE FOLLOW-UP OF SUBJECTS AFTER ADVERSE EVENTS…....36 
6.5 UNBLINDING PROTOCOL………………………………………………………………………..36 
6.6 DATA SAFETY AND MONITORING BOARD………………………………………………………37 
7. DATA MANAGEMENT 
 
7.1 DATA COLLECTION……………….…………………………………………………………….38 
7.2 QUALITY CONTROL PROCESS…………………………………………………………………..38 
7.3 DATA SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY………………………………………………………38 
7.4 WEB SYSTEMS……………………………………………………………………………………39 
8. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 
 
8.1 PRIMARY ANALYSES………………………..……………………………………………………40 
9. REPOSITORY 
 
9.1 PURPOSE…………...……………………..……………………………………………………40 
9.2 STEWARDSHIP……...……………………..……………………………………………………40 
9.3 RELEASE OF SAMPLES/DATA……...……………………..……………………………………41 
10. STAFF TRAINING 
42 
10. STUDY CONTACTS 
42 
 
1. INTRODUCTION 
 
1.1 SUMMARY 
Pain is a common co-morbidity for HIV-positive patients. Prevalence studies suggest that, on average, half 
of all HIV-positive persons suffer pain. Chronic pain can lead to heavy alcohol use among HIV-positive 
persons, which may in turn be a barrier to treatment/control of HIV and contribute to spread of HIV. 
Thus there is an urgent need to address pain among persons with HIV. We aim to perform a pilot RCT 
comparing low-dose naltrexone and gabapentin to placebo for improving pain, inflammation, and 
measures of HIV status among HIV-positive persons with chronic pain and heavy alcohol use. It is timely 
and relevant to conduct research on gabapentin. In this new era of judicious opioid prescribing it has 
emerged as one of the most commonly prescribed non-narcotic medications for pain. According to a 
recent review, gabapentin prescriptions increased from 44 to 68 million between 2013 and 2017, 
becoming the 10th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States.1 This is despite the fact 
that gabapentin is only FDA approved for “post-herpetic neuralgia” and the literature to support its use in 
other pain conditions, and generalized chronic pain, are limited. And yet, gabapentin has demonstrated 
benefits for treatment of alcohol use disorder,2 and therefore, like naltrexone, it could have a specific role 
for treating patients with chronic pain and unhealthy alcohol use.3  


Page 4 of 44 
 
The specific aim of the research is to perform a 3-arm pilot randomized, double-blinded, placebo-
controlled study of low-dose naltrexone and gabapentin vs. placebo among HIV-positive persons with 
heavy alcohol use and chronic pain to provide estimates of their effects on: 1) pain (both self-reported 
and experimental/cold pressor test; 2) inflammation (i.e., levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-
α); and 3) measures of HIV control (CD4 cell count and HIV viral load).  We choose to conduct this 
research in St. Petersburg, Russia, given that: 1) patients are seldom on chronic opioids (which are 
contraindicated to use with opioid receptor antagonists) due to the unavailability of opioid agonist 
therapy for addiction and restricted use of opioids for pain; and 2) a high prevalence of heavy drinking 
and HIV exists in Russia.  
During the UH2 component we found that K-opioid antagonist, nalmefene was not tolerable, leading us to 
modify the original research plan by replacing the nalmefene arm of the study with GABA analog, 
gabapentin. Given the US epidemic of opioid use disorders, new pharmacotherapies without addictive 
potential are desperately needed for HIV-positive persons with chronic pain and alcohol problems. 
 
2. OVERVIEW OF STUDY DESIGN  
2.1 STUDY AIMS 
Our Specific Aim will compare effects of low-dose naltrexone and gabapentin to placebo among HIV-
positive persons with heavy alcohol use and chronic pain:  
UH3 Aim:  To perform a 3-arm pilot, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of low-dose 
naltrexone and gabapentin vs. placebo among HIV-positive persons with heavy alcohol use and chronic 
pain to provide estimates of their effects on 1) pain (both self-reported and experimental/cold pressor 
test); 2) inflammation (i.e., levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α); and 3) 
measures of HIV control (CD4 cell count and HIV viral load). 
2.2 STUDY OUTCOMES 
 
Primary Outcomes: The primary outcome for this study is change in past week pain severity and pain 
interference (score 0-10) from baseline to week 8. Pain severity and interference will be measured using 
the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI).  
Secondary Outcomes:  
Changes in the following secondary outcomes between baseline and week 8 will also be compared among 
the 3 arms:  
1) Biomarkers IL-6, IL-β, 1L-10, and TNF-α. Levels of these pro-inflammatory markers will be measured 
on blood samples collected using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (R&D 
Systems).  
2) Cold pain tolerance. This will be measured using the cold-pressor test; briefly it is the number of 
seconds a participant can keep hand submerged in cold water bath.  


Page 5 of 44 
 
3) Percentage of past month heavy drinking days. We will use the Timeline Follow Back to assess drinks 
per day in the past 30 days. Using a calendar, people provide retrospective estimates of their daily 
drinking over the past 30 days from the interview date. Definitions of heavy drinking are based on NIAAA 
guidelines for at-risk drinking (i.e., drinking greater than 14 standard drinks per week/greater than 4 
drinks in a day for men; greater than 7 drinks in the past week/greater than 3 drinks in a day for 
women). 
4) Measures of HIV control: CD4 cell count and HIV viral load will be measured on participants. 
2.3 STUDY DESIGN 
This is a randomized, double-blinded, 3-arm study of 45 participants with HIV, chronic pain (defined as 
any bodily pain of moderate to severe intensity lasting for ≥3 months), and past-year heavy alcohol use, 
defined by NIAAA criteria. The 45 participants will be randomly assigned to either naltrexone, 
gabapentin, or placebo, using permuted blocks, to ensure equal numbers in each arm. Patients and 
research staff will be blinded to randomization. Participants will be treated for 8 weeks, and then 
assessed for an additional 4 weeks post-treatment.  
The study design and schedule for study visits and assessments is depicted in Figure 1. After consent and 
enrollment, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either low-dose naltrexone, gabapentin, or 
placebo. Participants will be randomized using permuted blocks, to ensure similar numbers within each 
arm. Patients and research staff will be blinded to randomization. Participants will be given 2 weeks of 
medication at baseline, 2-weeks, 4-weeks, and 6-week visits, with instructions to bring pill packs/leftover 
medications to the following visit. The schedule of study visits is as follows: baseline (pre-treatment), 
week 4 (on treatment), week 8 (on treatment), week 12 (post-treatment). At the 8 week visit, all 
assessments will occur (see Section 5). At week 4, we will assess for medication tolerability, 
discontinuation, treatment side effects, self-reported adherence to intervention medications, and pain 
(BPI) only. At week 12 (post-treatment), there will be an assessment of pain (BPI) and cold-pressor test 
to assess whether pain reverts back to pre-treatment levels. Weeks 1, 2, 6, and 7 will be short visits at 
which time a brief assessment of tolerability, side effects, and adherence will occur, and we will ensure 
that participants have their medications (e.g. have not been lost or stolen). 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 1: Study Design (UH3 Phase) 
Screening, Enrollment, & Baseline Assessment 
Randomization N=45 
Arm 1 N=15: 
4.5mg Naltrexone 
Arm 2 N=15:  
1800mg Gabapentin 
(Titrated from 300mg to 
reach 1800mg in Week 
3) 
Arm 3 N=15 
 Placebo 


Page 6 of 44 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.4 STUDY SITE 
Recruitment, enrollment, and all study visits will take place at the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology of 
Addictions at the First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University (PSMU) in St. Petersburg, Russia. 
PSMU is the major educational, scientific, and clinical medical institution for northwestern Russia. If 
unable to recruit an adequate sample size at these sites, we will broaden our recruitment methods to 
include other clinical sites of care for HIV-positive persons throughout St. Petersburg. Recruitment 
beyond Pavlov State Medical University (PSMU) will occur at Russia ARCH network hospitals including 
the major clinical HIV hospitals (Botkin Infectious Disease Hospital, Leningrad Regional AIDS Center, St. 
Petersburg City AIDS Center) and addiction hospitals (Leningrad Regional Center for Addictions, St. 
Petersburg City Addiction Hospital). Blood specimens will be processed and analyzed at 
ImmunoBioService (IBS) under the direction of Dr. Sergei Selkov. 
2.5 INCLUSION CRITERIA 
To be eligible to participate in the trial, participants will need to meet the following inclusion criteria: 
1. 18 years or older 
2. HIV-positive 
3. Chronic pain (present ≥3 months) of moderate to severe intensity 
4. Heavy drinking past year (Based on NIAAA criteria: > 14 standard drinks per week/ > 4 drinks in a 
day for men; > 7 drinks in the past week/ > 3 drinks in a day for women.) 
5. If female, negative pregnancy test and willing to use adequate birth control 
6. Provision of contact information for 2 contacts to assist with follow-up 
7. Address within 100 kilometers of St. Petersburg 
8. Possession of a telephone (home or cell) 
9. Able and willing to comply with all study protocols and procedures 


Page 7 of 44 
 
2.6 EXCLUSION CRITERIA AT STUDY ENTRY 
1. Not fluent in Russian 
2. Cognitive impairment resulting in inability to provide informed consent based on research 
assessor (RA) assessment 
3. Known active TB or current febrile illness 
4. Breastfeeding 
5. Known uncontrolled psychiatric illness (such as active psychosis) 
6. Current suicidal ideation  
7. History of hypersensitivity to naltrexone, gabapentin, or naloxone 
8. Current use (past week) of illicit or prescribed opiates as documented by either self-report or 
positive urine drug test 
9. Unwilling to abstain from opiates during the treatment period 
10. Current use of neuroleptics   
11.  History of seizure disorder 
12.  Known liver failure 
13.  ALT/AST levels >5x normal 
14. CrCl < 60 mL/min 
15. History of Raynaud’s disease 
16. Planned surgeries in the next 3 months  
17. Enrolled in another HIV and/or substance use medication intervention study 
18. Taking naltrexone in the past 30 days 
19. Taking gabapentin in the past 30 days 
20. Taking pregabalin in the past 30 days 
21. Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 
2.7 RECRUITMENT GOALS  
We aim to randomize 45 participants into the trial and a total of up to 60 may be enrolled, but not 
randomized due to not meeting study entry criteria. Existing Russia ARCH (H-31200) participants will be 


Page 8 of 44 
 
offered to be screened for PETER PAIN. We will also screen St PETER (H-35288) participants at their final 
St PETER study visit for eligibility. Participants who have completed the LINC-II study (H-36706) will 
also be a potential recruitment source. Recruitment beyond PSMU will occur at local NGOs and Russia 
ARCH network hospitals including the major clinical HIV hospitals (Botkin Infectious Disease Hospital, 
Leningrad Regional AIDS Center, St. Petersburg City AIDS Center) and addiction hospitals (Leningrad 
Regional Center for Addictions, St. Petersburg City Addiction Hospital).  
2.7.A. SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATION AND POWER 
The purpose of the pilot trial is to generate preliminary data for design of a future larger RCT to 
demonstrate efficacy. Thus estimation rather than testing is the main objective of this aim. However we 
provide illustrative power calculations for our primary outcome (change in pain severity) based on prior 
literature and the number of participants (15 in each arm) we intend to study. It is expected that 45 
participants will be enrolled into the study and less than 15% will drop out by 8 weeks. We therefore 
assume 39 participants (13 per arm) will complete the 8-week follow-up. The following calculations 
assume 2-sided tests, with an overall significance level of 0.05. For the purposes of power calculations, 
we consider a simple, conservative setting based on a Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons, 
although in our analyses we will use the Hochberg sequential correction method, an approach that will 
result in higher power than the Bonferroni method. To maintain an overall type I error rate of 5%, we 
assume each of the 2 primary pairwise comparisons (i.e. each intervention vs. placebo) will be conducted 
at an alpha level of 0.025 for the following power calculations. Based on the 2013 study by Younger, the 
standard deviation for change in pain severity was 2.9. We expect the standard deviation will be similar 
in the proposed study and the same for each randomized group. Given this assumption, the minimum 
detectable difference in change in pain severity between baseline and 8 weeks that the study can detect 
with 80% power is 3.8 for either of the 2 primary comparisons of interest (i.e., naltrexone vs. placebo; 
gabapentin vs. placebo), (e.g., -3.0 vs. 0.8 for naltrexone vs. placebo, respectively) using a 2-sided t-test. 
Because a main goal of the study is estimation of effect sizes for the design of a future study, we also 
estimate the width of the confidence interval for the mean difference between any two arms for the 
primary outcome. Our calculations assume 2-sided 95% confidence intervals. Assuming a standard 
deviation of 2.9 as above, the 95% confidence interval for the mean difference in change in pain severity 
for either intervention arm vs. placebo would be no wider than 4.7.  
3. INTERVENTION 
 
3.1 INTERVENTION OVERVIEW 
 
The study will randomize 45 HIV-positive persons with past year heavy alcohol consumption (by NIAAA 
definition of at risk drinking) and chronic pain (defined as bodily pain of moderate to severe intensity 
lasting for ≥ 3 months). Existing Russia ARCH participants, and past St PETER, LINC-II, and PETER PAIN 
participants will be offered to be screened for this study. Recruitment beyond First St. Petersburg Pavlov 
State Medical University (PSMU) will occur at local NGOs, Russia ARCH network hospitals including the 
major clinical HIV and addiction hospitals. Some participants may be screened over the phone, but all 
interested potential study participants will ultimately be invited for an in-person screening of eligibility 
at PSMU. After eligible participants are consented and enrolled, the RA will complete screening for 
eligibility by conducting a rapid HIV test for non-ARCH participants, a urine drug test, blood draw for 


Page 9 of 44 
 
AST/ALT and creatinine testing, and testing all women for pregnancy (urine). Once AST/ALT and 
creatinine results are received, participants will be notified by phone and if eligible, will be invited to 
return to Pavlov for their baseline visit.  
At the baseline visit, participants will be administered the naloxone challenge and observed for signs of 
opioid withdrawal for 20 minutes. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids. It works only if it is injected and 
lasts about 30 minutes. It is used in hospitals and by emergency services to reverse the effects of a heroin 
or other opioid overdose. It will cause withdrawal if injected into someone who is currently physically 
dependent on opioids and will be administered to make sure that the participant is not physically 
dependent on heroin or other opioids before s/he is given oral naltrexone.  The naloxone challenge will 
only be administered if the information the participant provides to the staff indicates that s/he is not 
physically dependent on heroin or other opioids and if his/her urine drug test is negative. The challenge 
will be done by administering 0.8-mg naloxone slowly intramuscularly. The participant will be observed 
by a research assessor for signs of withdrawal for 5-20 minutes. If the participant experiences 
withdrawal after the naloxone test, his/her symptoms may be treated with 150mcg clonidine or 2mg of 
phenazepam orally and will go away in 45-60 minutes. As withdrawal symptoms precipitated by 
naloxone typically resolve within 20 minutes without treatment, use of these medications will be decided 
on a case-by-case basis by the treating Russian physician-investigator. 
In the consent form, participants will be alerted that they may experience the following side effects if they 
need to be treated with clonidine or phenazepam:  
The most frequent side effects (which appear to be dose-related) of clonidine are dry mouth, 
drowsiness, dizziness, constipation and sedation. The most frequent side effects of phenazepam 
are drowsiness, sedation, muscle weakness, and ataxia. These side effects generally decrease on 
continued administration and are a consequence of CNS depression. 
The participant will not be started on the study medication until s/he passes a naloxone challenge, which 
means that s/he has no signs or symptoms of opioid withdrawal after naloxone is administered.   
If the participant fails the naloxone challenge, s/he will be invited to come back within a week to repeat 
the challenge. Participants who pass the naloxone challenge will then complete the study assessment, 
cold-pressor testing and be randomly assigned to either low-dose naltrexone, gabapentin, or placebo. 
Study medication will be provided by trained physicians, who will instruct participants in proper 
medication administration and adherence. 
Study participants, investigators, staff, and physicians administering the medications will be unaware of 
specific group assignment.  
Participants will be treated for 8 weeks, and observed for 4 weeks post-treatment. Outcomes (pain 
severity and interference (BPI), biomarkers IL-6, 1β, IL-10, and TNF-α, cold pain tolerance, percentage of 
past month heavy drinking days, CD4 cell count, and HIV viral load) will be evaluated at the end of 
treatment.  


Page 10 of 44 
 
Throughout the course of the study, participants will be expected to come in for eight in-person 
assessments. The schedule of study in-person visits/assessments are as follows: baseline, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 
and 12 weeks. At week 4, we will assess for medication tolerability, discontinuation, treatment side 
effects, self-reported adherence to intervention medications, and pain (BPI) only. At week 8, we will 
assess pain (BPI), biomarker IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α levels, cold pain tolerance using cold-pressor, 
pain interference, percentage of past month heavy drinking days, and HIV control (CD4 cell count & HIV 
viral load). At week 12 (post-treatment), there will be an assessment of pain (BPI) and cold-pressor test 
to assess whether pain reverts back to pre-treatment levels. Weeks 1, 2, 6, and 7 will be short visits, at 
which a brief assessment of tolerability, side effects, and adherence will occur, and we will ensure that 
participants have their medications (e.g. have not been lost or stolen). 
Visits will be preceded by phone/text reminders to the participant or alternate contacts.  
The text message will read: "This is a reminder that your visit to Pavlov Medical University is 
scheduled for_____at______. Please reply to confirm or call 973-53-96 to reschedule." 
3.2 RANDOMIZATION 
After consent and enrollment, participants will be randomly assigned to either low-dose naltrexone, 
gabapentin, or placebo with a 1:1:1 allocation ratio using permuted blocks to ensure equal numbers in 
each arm. Participants and research staff will be blinded to randomization arm.  
Study medications will be obtained in St. Petersburg and delivered to the study pharmacist at PSMU prior 
to initiation of recruitment processes. The study pharmacist will deliver a supply of packaged boxes of 
study medication labeled with the group assignment to the study team. 
 
Following completion of the baseline assessment, the RA will be directed to the electronic randomization 
screen in REDCap, which, once submitted, automatically assigns the participant to a randomization 
group.  The RA then retrieves the pack of study medication from the identified group, labels the pack with 
the participant study ID, and enters the group number into REDCap, thus linking the two numbers.   
3.3 INTERVENTION 
Eligible participants will be randomly assigned into one of three study arms: 1) 4.5 mg naltrexone, 2) up 
to 1800mg gabapentin, or 3) placebo. Study medication will be provided by trained physicians, who will 
instruct participants in proper medication administration and adherence. 
Drug capsules containing naltrexone hydrochloride (4.5mg), gabapentin (300 mg), and placebo will be 
prepared by NonStopPharma, a compounding pharmacy in St. Petersburg, Russia. Doses will look 
identical; participants and providers will be blinded to assigned medication. Participants will be 
instructed to take anywhere from one capsule per day to two capsules orally three times per day for 8 
weeks. If a participant in any group experiences an adverse event, the dosage will be decreased by one 
capsule. Participants will be given 14 days’ worth of medications at the baseline visit, 7 days’ worth of 
medications at the 1-week visit, 14 days’ worth of medications at the 2-week visit, 14 days’ worth of 


Page 11 of 44 
 
medications at the 4-week visit, and 7 days’ worth of medications at the 6-week visit, with instructions to 
bring pill packs/leftover medications to the following visit.  
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated that an Investigational New Drug (IND) is not 
needed for studies conducted outside the United States. 
 
3.3.A. NALTREXONE 
Participants randomized to this group will receive low-dose naltrexone for 8 weeks.  
Participants will be instructed to take the medication from one to three times daily for 8 weeks. Each 
daily pill pack for participants in the low-dose naltrexone arm will contain one capsule of low-dose 
naltrexone (4.5mg) and the appropriate number of placebo capsules. Depending on the week, the number 
of placebo capsules per day will range between one and six, to match the dosage of the gabapentin arm. 
Naltrexone dosing will start on the day of the baseline visit, after successful passing of the naloxone 
challenge. If the participant does not pass the naloxone challenge, he/she will be brought back within a 
week to try again. 
Medication will be packaged in pill boxes. Participants will receive 1 box of 7 capsules and 1 box of 21 
capsules at baseline (14 days worth of medication), at the 1-week visit participants will receive 1 box of 
42 capsules, at the 2-week visit participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules, at the 4-week visit 
participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules; at the 6-week visit participants will receive 1 box of 33 
capsules. In week 1, participants will take 4.5mg of naltrexone once daily. In week 2, participants will 
take 4.5mg of naltrexone once daily, and a placebo capsule twice daily. In weeks 3 through 7, participants 
will take 1 placebo capsule with 4.5 mg mg of naltrexone once daily, and 2 placebo capsules twice daily. 
In week 8, in days 1-4 participants will take 4.5 mg of naltrexone with a placebo capsule once daily and 2 
placebo capsules twice daily; in days 5-7, participants will take 4.5 mg of naltrexone once daily, and a 
placebo capsule twice daily. 
The most common side effects (reported in more than 1 in 10 people) of naltrexone are difficulty 
sleeping, anxiety, nervousness, abdominal pain/cramps, nausea and/or vomiting, low energy, joint and 
muscle pain, and headache. 
Uncommon side effects (reported in less than 1 and 10 people, but more than 1 in 100 people) of 
naltrexone are loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, increased thirst, increased energy, feeling down, 
irritability, dizziness, skin rash, delayed ejaculation, decreased potency, and chills. 
Rare side effects (reported in less than 1 in 100 people) of naltrexone include nasal congestion, itching, 
rhinorrhea, sneezing, sore throat, excess mucus or phlegm, sinus trouble, heavy breathing, hoarseness, 
cough, shortness of breath, nose bleeds, phlebitis, edema, increased blood pressure, non-specific ECG 
changes, palpitations, tachycardia, excessive gas, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, ulcer, painful shoulders, legs or 
knees; tremors, twitching, increased frequency of, or discomfort during, urination; increased or 
decreased sexual interest, oily skin, pruritus, acne, athlete's foot, cold sores, alopecia, depression, 
paranoia, fatigue, restlessness, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, nightmares, bad dreams, eyes–


Page 12 of 44 
 
blurred, burning, light sensitive, swollen, aching, strained; ears–"clogged," aching, tinnitus, Increased 
appetite, weight loss, weight gain, yawning, somnolence, fever, and dry mouth, 
Please note that these side effects were reported among people taking 50mg of naltrexone. This study 
will use low dose naltrexone (4.5mg) and side effects are expected to be milder. In order to help prevent 
these adverse effects, participants will be instructed not to take more medication than what is provided 
by the study. Study clinicians will also be monitoring for signs of naltrexone overdose. These adverse 
effects are not expected to be likely. 
3.3.B. GABAPENTIN  
Participants randomized to this group will receive gabapentin for 8 weeks.  
Gabapentin dosing will start on the day of the baseline visit after successful passing of the naloxone 
challenge. If the participant does not pass the naloxone challenge, he/she will be brought back within a 
week to try again. 
Participants will be instructed to take the medication from one to three times daily for 8 weeks.  
Medication will be packaged in pill boxes. Participants will receive 1 box of 7 capsules and 1 box of 21 
capsules at baseline (14 days worth of medication), at the 1-week visit participants will receive 1 box of 
42 capsules, at the 2-week visit participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules, at the 4-week visit 
participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules; at the 6-week visit participants will receive 1 box of 33 
capsules. 
Participants randomized to the gabapentin arm begin on a dose of 300 mg daily (300 mg qd). In week 2, 
participants will take 300 mg of gabapentin three times daily.  In week 3 the dose will be titrated up to 
1800 mg daily (300 mg+300 mg tid) will remain on the dose until week 8, when they will be tapered back 
down to 900 mg daily (300 mg tid).  In week 8, in days 1-4 participants will take 1800 mg daily (300 
mg+300 mg tid); in days 5-7, participants will take 900 mg daily (300 mg of gabapentin three times 
daily). Gabapentin will only be titrated up as tolerated by the participant.  Participants will be monitored 
regularly for side effects and medication tolerability (weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7) If a participant experiences 
adverse effects while on medication, the participant’s dose will be reduced down to the previous dose (or 
to a lower dose that the participant can tolerate). Research Assessors in this study are all trained 
addiction psychiatrists, with experience in clinical trials and adverse event monitoring. 
The most common side effects (frequency of side effects cannot be estimated from available data) of 
gabapentin are lack of coordination, feeling tired, viral infection, fever, feeling drowsy, jerky movements, 
nausea and vomiting, difficulty with coordination, difficulty with speaking, double vision, tremor, unusual 
eye movement, and swelling (usually of legs and feet).  
Rare side effects of gabapentin (reported in about 1 in 500) include suicidal thoughts or actions. These 
may include thoughts about suicide or dying, attempts to commit suicide, new or worse depression, new 
or worse anxiety, feeling agitated or restless, panic attacks, trouble sleeping (insomnia), new or worse 


Page 13 of 44 
 
irritability, acting aggressive, being angry, or violent, acting on dangerous impulses, an extreme increase 
in activity and talking (mania), other unusual changes in behavior or mood. 
Other side effects (frequency of side effects cannot be estimated from available data) of gabapentin are 
serious or life-threatening allergic reactions that may affect one’s skin or other parts of the body such as 
the liver or blood cells. Symptoms may include skin rash, hives, difficulty breathing, fever, swollen glands 
that do not go away, swelling of the face, lips, throat, or tongue, yellowing of the skin or of the whites of 
the eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, severe fatigue or weakness, unexpected muscle pain, frequent 
infections. 
3.3.C. PLACEBO 
Participants randomized to this group will receive a placebo medication for 8 weeks. 
Medication dosing will start on the day of the baseline visit after successful passing of the naloxone 
challenge. If the participant does not pass the naloxone challenge, he/she will be brought back within a 
week to try again. 
Participants will be instructed to take the medication one to three times daily for 8 weeks. Medication 
will be packaged in pill boxes. Participants will receive 1 box of 7 capsules and 1 box of 21 capsules at 
baseline (14 days worth of medication), at the 1-week visit participants will receive 1 box of 42 capsules, 
at the 2-week visit participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules, at the 4-week visit participants will 
receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules; at the 6-week visit participants will receive 1 box of 33 capsules. 
In week 1, participants will take 1 placebo capsule once daily. In week 2, participants will take 1 placebo 
capsule three times per day. In weeks 3 through 7, 2 placebo capsules three times per day. In week 8, in 
days 1-4 participants will take 2 placebo capsules three times per day; in days 5-7, participants will take 
1 placebo capsule three times per day. The placebo medications will be composed of lactose and will not 
contain active ingredients. The placebo and active study medications will be indistinguishable by 
appearance and taste.   
3.3.D. NALOXONE CHALLENGE 
At the baseline visit, participants will be administered the naloxone challenge and observed for signs of 
opioid withdrawal for 20 minutes. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids. It works only if it is injected and 
lasts about 30 minutes. It is used in hospitals and by emergency services to reverse the effects of a heroin 
or other opioid overdose. It will cause withdrawal if injected into someone who is currently physically 
dependent on opioids and will be administered to make sure that the participant is not physically 
dependent on heroin or other opioids before s/he is given oral naltrexone.  The naloxone challenge will 
only be administered if the information the participant provides to the staff indicates that s/he is not 
physically dependent on heroin or other opioids and if his/her urine drug test is negative. The challenge 
will be done by administering 0.8-mg naloxone slowly intramuscularly. The participant will be observed 
by a research assessor for signs of withdrawal for 5-20 minutes.  
Discomfort during the naloxone challenge will occur if the participant is physically dependent on opioids. 
Naloxone can induce opioid withdrawal, such as feeling sick, stomach cramps, muscle spasms, feelings of 


Page 14 of 44 
 
coldness, heart pounding, muscular tension, aches and pains, yawning, runny eyes, and insomnia. If 
participants have withdrawal after the naloxone test, their symptoms may be treated with 150mcg 
clonidine or 2mg of phenazepam orally and are not anticipated to last more than 45-60 minutes.  As 
withdrawal symptoms precipitated by naloxone typically resolve within 20 minutes without treatment, 
use of these medications will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the treating Russian physician-
investigator. 
The most frequent side effects (which appear to be dose-related) of clonidine are dry mouth, 
occurring in about 40 of 100 patients; drowsiness, about 33 in 100; dizziness, about 16 in 100; 
constipation and sedation, each about 10 in 100. 
The following less frequent adverse experiences have also been reported in patients receiving 
clonidine tablets, but in many cases patients were receiving concomitant medication and a causal 
relationship has not been established: fatigue, fever, headache, pallor, weakness, and withdrawal 
syndrome. Also reported were a weakly positive Coombs test and increased sensitivity to alcohol, 
bradycardia, congestive heart failure, electrocardiographic abnormalities (i.e., sinus node arrest, 
junctional bradycardia, high degree AV block and arrhythmias), orthostatic symptoms, 
palpitations, Raynaud’s phenomenon, syncope, and tachycardia. Cases of sinus bradycardia and 
atrioventricular block have been reported, both with and without the use of concomitant digitalis, 
agitation, anxiety, delirium, delusional perception, hallucinations (including visual and auditory), 
insomnia, mental depression, nervousness, other behavioral changes, paresthesia, restlessness, 
sleep disorder, and vivid dreams or nightmares, alopecia, angioneurotic edema, hives, pruritus, 
rash, and urticaria, abdominal pain, anorexia, constipation, hepatitis, malaise, mild transient 
abnormalities in liver function tests, nausea, parotitis, pseudo-obstruction (including colonic 
pseudo-obstruction), salivary gland pain, vomiting, decreased sexual activity, difficulty in 
micturition, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, nocturia, and urinary retention, thrombocytopenia, 
gynecomastia, transient elevation of blood glucose or serum creatinine phosphokinase, weight 
gain, leg cramps and muscle or joint pain, dryness of the nasal mucosa, accommodation disorder, 
blurred vision, burning of the eyes, decreased lacrimation, and dryness of eyes. 
The most frequent side effects of phenazepam use are drowsiness, sedation, muscle weakness, and 
ataxia. These side effects generally decrease on continued administration and are a consequence 
of CNS depression. 
Less frequent effects include vertigo, headache, confusion, depression, slurred speech or 
dysarthria, changes in libido, tremor, visual disturbances, urinary retention or incontinence, 
gastrointestinal disturbances, changes in salivation, and amnesia. Some patients may experience a 
paradoxical excitation, which may lead to hostility, aggression, and disinhibition. 
Jaundice, blood disorders and hypersensitivity reactions have been reported rarely. Raised liver 
enzyme values have occurred. 
3.4 MEDICATION CONSIDERATIONS 


Page 15 of 44 
 
3.4.A SYMPTOM MONITORING 
The study staff (research clinicians [addiction physicians with extensive experience performing 
pharmacotherapy trials]) will provide participants with the correct medication packages and advice on 
how to take the capsules. The staff will be trained to assess for adverse medication effects and will follow 
established protocols for identifying and monitoring any ongoing adverse events, including referral to 
treatment as appropriate. Study participants will be actively monitored for adverse events. Symptoms 
will be assessed every two weeks (and monitored more frequently, if necessary) by trained clinical staff, 
while the participants are administered study medications.  Processes have be set up to address any 
adverse event brought to the attention of study staff during the trial. 
3.4.B. ADHERENCE 
As one of the study outcomes, medication adherence will be assessed at each study visit using the 
following measures. 
Capsule Counts 
Participants will be instructed to bring any unused medication to each study visit post-baseline. The RA 
will count and record the number of remaining capsules. We will extrapolate the amount of medication 
taken and determine the measure of adherence. 
Self-Report 
Medication adherence will also be measured through self-report using the modified Adult AIDS Clinical 
Trial Group (AACTG) ART adherence questions. 
Pill Diary 
Participants will be asked to keep a daily written record (“daily diary”) of pain severity, medication 
adherence, and alcohol use.  
Adherence Aids 
During each study visit medication instructions will be reviewed and strategies for adherence discussed 
with each participant. Adherence plans will be individually tailored to each participant, depending on his 
or her reason for non-adherence.  
Participants will also be encouraged to set a reminder in their phone to take the study medication three 
times each day. 
3.4.C. MEDICATION DISBURSEMENT 
Medication inserts will be provided to participants at baseline.  
Medication distribution will be as follows: 


Page 16 of 44 
 
Naltrexone: 
• 7 capsules/box, 1 capsule/day (Week 1) 
o Week 1: 4.5 mg qd (4.5 mg total) 
• 21 capsules/box, 3 capsules/day (Week 2)  
o Week 2: 4.5 mg naltrexone qd, 1 placebo capsule bid 
• 42 capsules/box, 6 capsules/day (Week 3-7) 
o Weeks 3-7: 1 placebo to be taken with 4.5 mg naltrexone qd, 2 placebo capsules to be taken 
bid 
• 33 capsules/box, (Week 8) 
o Days 1-4 (6 capsules/day): 1 placebo to be taken with 4.5 mg naltrexone qd, 2 placebo 
capsules to be taken bid 
o Days 5-7 (3 capsules/day): 4.5 mg naltrexone qd, 1 placebo capsule bid 
• Participants will receive 1 box of 7 capsules and 1 box of 21 capsules at baseline (14 days’ worth).  
• Participants will receive 1 box of 42 capsules at week 1 (7 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules at week 2 (14 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules at week 4 (14 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 1 box of 33 capsules at week 6 (7 days’ worth). 
Gabapentin: 
• 7 capsules/box, 1 capsule/day (Week 1) 
o Week 1: 300 mg qd (300mg total) 
• 21 capsules/box, 3 capsules/day (Week 2) 
o Week 2: 300 mg tid (900 mg total) 
• 42 capsules/box, 6 capsules/day (Week 3-7) 
o Weeks 3-7: 2 capsules of 300 mg tid (1800 mg total) 
• 33 capsules/box (Week 8) 
o  Days 1-4 (6 capsules/day): 2 capsules of 300 mg tid (1800 mg total)  
o Days 5-7 (3 capsules/day): 300 mg tid (900 mg total) 
• Participants will receive 1 box of 7 capsules and 1 box of 21 capsules at baseline (14 days’ worth).  
• Participants will receive 1 box of 42 capsules at week 1 (7 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules at week 2 (14 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules at week 4 (14 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 1 box of 33 capsules at week 6 (7 days’ worth). 
Placebo: 
• 7 capsules/box, 1 capsule/day (Week 1) 
o Week 1: 1 placebo capsule qd 
• 21 capsules/box, 3 capsules/day (Week 2) 
o Week 2: 1 placebo capsule tid 
• 42 capsules/box, 6 capsules/day (Week 3-7) 


Page 17 of 44 
 
o Weeks 3-7: 2 placebo capsules tid 
• 33 capsules/box (Week 8) 
o  Days 1-4 (6 capsules/day): 2 placebo capsules tid 
o Days 5-7 (3 capsules/day): 1 placebo capsule tid 
• Participants will receive 1 box of 21 capsules and 1 box of 42 capsules at baseline (14 days’ 
worth).  
• Participants will receive 1 box of 42 capsules at week 1 (7 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules at week 2 (14 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 2 boxes of 42 capsules at week 4 (14 days’ worth). 
• Participants will receive 1 box of 33 capsules at week 6 (7 days’ worth). 
Medication boxes will also be labeled. The medication labels will contain the following information: 
FOR CLINICAL TRIAL USE ONLY 
NALTREXONE/GABAPENTIN/PLACEBO 
STORAGE: Don’t store medication above 25°C. 
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND PETS.  
Return all unused medication to the study site.  
DATE OF MANUFACTURE: 
SHELF LIFE: 
3.4.D. LOST OR STOLEN STUDY MEDICATION 
If participants report lost or stolen medication, they will be provided with extra study medication. If
participants report losing medication more than once, the study team will be alerted and the case 
discussed to determine a plan of action.  
3.4.E. DISCONTINUATION OF STUDY MEDICATION 
If as a result of study testing at week 4, a participant is found to have AST/ALT >10x normal, medications 
will be discontinued and the participants will be appropriately monitored for resolution of the 
abnormalities. If a participant has AST/ALT >5x normal as a result of study testing at week 4, participant 
will be rechecked at their 6-week visit to ensure levels do not increase to the threshold of 
discontinuation. Any participant with symptoms of acute hepatic failure (jaundice, dark urine) will have 
AST/ALT checked. 
Those who discontinue medication will be followed and analyzed by intention to treat. 
Participants found to be pregnant during the study will have their study medication discontinued, but 
will still be followed-up for the duration of the study. Participants who report pregnancy outside of study 


Page 18 of 44 
 
visits will be instructed to immediately discontinue their study medication and requested to come in for a 
confirmatory urine pregnancy test.  
3.5 SCHEDULE OF DATA COLLECTION 
 
Scre
en 
 
Baseline 
Visit 
1 
week 
visit 
2 week 
visit 
4 
week 
visit 
6 week 
visit 
7 week 
visit 
8 week 
visit 
12 week 
visit 
Screening 
Screening Questions 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Verification of HIV, 
non-pregnancy, urine 
tox, and ALT/AST 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Enrollment 
Sign Informed 
Consent  
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Complete contact 
information/verify 
numbers 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Randomization 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Laboratory 
Clinical Values 
 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Pregnancy Test 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
Urine Drug Test 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AST, ALT 
X 
 
 
 
X 
X (if 
indicat
ed) 
 
 
 
Creatinine 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cold Pressor Test 
 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Naloxone Challenge 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Blood Draw (IL-6, IL-
1β, IL-10, TNF-alpha, 
CD4, HVL) 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
Assessment 
Full Study 
Assessment 
 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Short Assessment 
 
 
X 
X 
 
X 
X 
 
 
Intervention 
Symptom 
Management/Adverse 
Events  
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Provide Medication 
Instructions 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
Give Study Medication 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
Discuss Adherence 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Assess Adherence 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Other 
Provide Resource 
Card 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Compensate for 
Participation 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Report Adverse 
Events 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Complete Tracking 
Forms 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
3.5.A. VISIT WINDOWS 
 
Baseline Visit  


Page 19 of 44 
 
• Window open: 1 day post screening 
• Target date: 3 days post screening 
• Window close: 28 days post screening 
• Window length: 27 days 
1 Week Visit  
• Window open: 5 days post baseline 
• Target date: 7 days post baseline 
• Window close: 10 days post baseline 
• Window length: 5 days 
2 Week Visit  
• Window open: 11 days post baseline 
• Target date: 14 days post baseline 
• Window close: 20 days post baseline 
• Window length: 9 days 
4 Week Visit 
• Window open: 21 days post baseline 
• Target date: 28 days post baseline 
• Window close: 37 days post baseline 
• Window length: 16 days 
6 Week Visit 
• Window open: 38 days post baseline 
• Target date: 42 days post baseline 
• Window close: 45 days post baseline 
• Window length: 7 days 
7 Week Visit 
• Window open: 46 days post baseline 
• Target date: 49 days post baseline 
• Window close: 52 days post baseline 
• Window length: 6 days  
8 Week Visit 
• Window open: 53 days post baseline 
• Target date: 56 days post baseline 
• Window close: 73 days post baseline 
Window length: 20 days 


Page 20 of 44 
 
12 Week Visit  
• Window open: 74 days post baseline 
• Target date: 84 days post baseline 
• Window close: 94 days post baseline 
• Window length: 20 days  
3.6 DATA SOURCES 
3.6.A QUESTIONNAIRES 
Questionnaires will be administered at baseline, 1-, 2-, 4-, 6-, 7-, 8-, and 12-week study visits. At weeks 4 
and 8, assessments of medication tolerability, discontinuation, treatment side effects, self-reported 
adherence, and self-reported pain (BPI) will occur. At week 12 (post-treatment), there will be an 
assessment of self-reported pain (BPI) only. At weeks 1, 2, 6, and 7 brief assessment of tolerability, side 
effects, and adherence will occur.  
3.6.B. URINE 
A pregnancy test will be administered by trained clinical research staff at screening to determine 
eligibility and at each study visit (except for 8- and 12-weeks). 
Pregnant women will be excluded from the study due to some reports suggesting possible adverse events 
with study medications. Participants found to be pregnant will discontinue their study medication but 
will still be followed-up for the duration of the study. 
Urine will also be checked at screening and baseline, as part of the naloxone challenge, to ensure that 
participants have not recently used opiates (as opioid receptor antagonists would be contraindicated as 
they could precipitate withdrawal).  The urine drug test will test for a range of opioids, specifically 
opiates (products of the poppy plant – morphine, heroin) and synthetic opioids (specifically methadone). 
If new opioids appear on the scene in Russia, such as fentanyl, then we will begin testing for this, but 
currently that is not thought to be an issue. 
3.6.C. BLOOD 
Blood will be collected at screening and the 4- week study visit to assess AST/ALT and/or Creatinine 
levels. Blood may also be collected at the 6-week study visit for liver function testing, if indicated at the 
participant’s 4-week study visit (see Section 3.4E). 
 
Additional blood will be collected at baseline and the 8-week study visit to assess pro-inflammatory 
biomarkers, IL-6 IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-alpha, as well as measures of HIV control, CD4 cell count and HIV 
viral load. Levels of these pro-inflammatory markers will be measured on blood samples collected using 
commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (R&D Systems). Blood specimens will 
be processed and analyzed locally at the ImmunoBioService (IBS) under the direction of Dr. Sergei 
Selkvo. Per current Russia ARCH protocols, the local laboratory will collaborate with study consultant Dr. 
Russell Tracy who directs the Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research (LCBR) at the University of 
Vermont, which specializes in biomarker testing in large population studies and clinical trials. 


Page 21 of 44 
 
 
 
Test 
Timepoint 
Red Tube (9 mL ) 
IL-6 
Baseline, 8-weeks 
IL-10 
Baseline, 8-weeks 
IL-1β 
Baseline, 8-weeks 
TNF-α 
Baseline, 8-Weeks 
Purple EDTA (4 mL) 
HIV RNA 
Baseline, 8-Weeks 
Green Top (4 mL)                        
CD4 
Baseline, 8-Weeks 
Red Top (4 mL) 
AST/ALT 
Screening, 4-weeks, 6-
weeks (if indicated) 
eGFR (creatinine) 
Screening 
 
 
Unsuccessful Draw Protocol 
At baseline and 8-weeks, a blood draw will be considered successful if the EDTA purple top tube is at 
least half full, the green top tube is at least ¾ full, and the red top tube is full.  
 
Participants with unsuccessful baseline blood draws will receive 1/3 (350 RUB) compensation at the 
initial attempt, 1/3 (333 RUB) at their second attempt, and the final 1/3 (350 RUB) at their third attempt. 
If the second attempt is successful, they will receive the remaining 2/3 (650 RUB) of the compensation at 
that time. 
 
If the blood draw is unsuccessful at the 8-week study visit, the participant will be given partial (1/2, 750 
RUB) compensation for completion of the assessment. The participant has 30 days to complete the blood 
draw attempt. Blood draw attempts will occur weekly (up to 4 times, the fourth attempt will correspond 
with the participant’s 12-week study visit). The remaining 1/2 (750 RUB) of the compensation will be 
divided between the 4 weekly attempts (187 RUB for each attempt). If the second or third attempts are 
successful, participants will receive the remaining 1/2 or 3/4 (375 RUB-561 RUB) at that time. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Page 22 of 44 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.6.D. COLD-PRESSOR TESTING 
The cold-pressor test (CPT) is an experimental model that assesses cold pain threshold and tolerance. It 
is a research paradigm that has been used by researchers for decades, and has been utilized to measure 
enhanced sensitivity to cold pain (hyperalgesia). The investigators will use an automatic cooling water 
bath that keeps a constant temperature of 0–2 degrees Celsius. Participants are instructed to place their 
dominant arm in the cold water bath so that ice water covers the hand and approximately 10 cm of the 
forearm, to verbally indicate when they first perceive pain and, to rate their pain on a scale of 0-100 at its 
very worse, and when they can no longer tolerate the ice bath, to remove their arm from the water. The 
time from submersion to those events will be measured using a stopwatch. Cold pain threshold is 
measured as number of seconds to the initial perception of pain, and cold pain tolerance is measured as 
seconds until withdrawal of hand. Trials will be discontinued at 3 minutes since after this time pain 
severity diminishes as numbness sets in. This data will be collected at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 
12. Participants will be requested to refrain from over the counter analgesic use (non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory pain medications or acetaminophen) for 24 hours prior to the study visit. 
3.6.E. DAILY PAIN DIARY 
Participants will be asked to keep a daily written record (“daily diary”) of pain severity, medication 
adherence, and alcohol use.  
4. STUDY PROCEDURES 
Baseline 
Timing of 
blood draw 
Blood draw to take place prior to 
assessment; If blood draw is not 
successful, no assessment is 
conducted. 
Compensation 
If blood draw is not successful, 
participant receives partial (1/3) 
compensation. 
Window 
30 days after completion of screener  
Final attempt 
3 weekly attempts; at final attempt 
provide full compensation. 
Follow up* 
(8-week visit 
only) 
Timing of 
blood draw 
If blood draw is not successful, 
proceed to assessment. 
Compensation 
Given partial (1/2) compensation 
for completion of assessment. 
Window 
30 days after completion of 
assessment. 
Final attempt 
4 weekly attempts; at final attempt 
provide full compensation. 


Page 23 of 44 
 
4.1 RECRUITMENT 
Former Russia ARCH, St PETER, LINC-II and PETER PAIN participants, who have agreed to be contacted 
for future studies, will be screened for the study. Current St PETER participants will also be screened for 
the study at their final St PETER study visit. Recruitment beyond these study populations will occur at 
local NGOs and Russia ARCH network hospitals including the major clinical HIV hospitals (Botkin 
Infectious Disease Hospital, Leningrad Regional AIDS Center, St. Petersburg City AIDS Center) and 
addiction hospitals (Leningrad Regional Center for Addictions, St. Petersburg City Addiction Hospital) 
through notification of patients and providers at these sites.  At each of the recruitment sites flyers with 
information about the trial will be distributed to clinicians and peers working with HIV-positive patients.  
Flyers will provide a phone number (at Pavlov) for interested individuals to call to find out more about 
the study and undergo initial screening over the phone. On occasion, Pavlov research assessors may 
travel to screen participants at the affiliated clinical locations. Flyers will also be posted on social media 
platforms through the Pavlov University social media accounts/pages. 
4.2 SCREENING 
Screening may take place over the phone or in-person. Verbal consent for screening will be obtained from 
all potential participants. Potential participants will be asked by a research assessor, either on the phone 
or in-person, their age, HIV infection status, past year alcohol consumption, chronic pain (moderate to 
severe intensity), and pregnancy status, confirm residence within 100km of St. Petersburg, and 
possession of a phone, and two contacts to assist with follow-up, and ability and willingness to comply 
with all study protocols and procedures. If the participant is not fluent in Russian, has a cognitive 
impairment resulting in inability to provide informed consent, reports breastfeeding, has known 
uncontrolled psychiatric illness (such as active psychosis), has current suicidal ideations, has known 
active tuberculosis or current febrile illness, has a history of hypersensitivity to naltrexone, gabapentin, 
or naloxone, has known liver failure, has a history of Reynaud’s disease, has ALT/AST levels >5x ULN, 
CrCl<60mL/min, is currently using (past week) illicit or prescribed opiates, is unwilling to abstain from 
opiates in during the treatment period, is currently using psychotropic or neuroleptic medications or has 
a history of seizure disorder, has any planned surgeries in the next three months, if the participant is 
enrolled in another HIV and/or substance use intervention study, or has taken naltrexone or gabapentin 
in the past 30 days then s/he will be deemed ineligible and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We 
will also collect information on participants’ average pain in the past week, pain interference with their 
enjoyment of life in the past week, and pain interference with their general activity in the past week. 
These data will be used to describe the sample, including those individuals who screen ineligible, but will 
not be used for assessing eligibility. After informed consent is signed, a confirmatory pregnancy test will 
be done for all female participants and urine drug test for all. Rapid HIV testing will be conducted, via an 
Alere DetermineTM HIV-1/2 visual read, qualitative immunoassay for the detection of HIV-1 and HIV-2 
antibodies, for all non-Russia ARCH/St PETER/PETER PAIN UH2/LINC-II participants. Participants have 
the option of bringing in a recent (must be dated within 4 weeks of the screening visit) liver function test 
result to the screening visit to assess for eligibility, all other participants will have their blood drawn and 
sent for AST/ALT testing. Data collected on participants who screen out will be kept in order to have an 
accurate record of the rate of enrollment among those screened for participation and to be able to 
identify reasons why potential participants are ineligible. The data will not contain identifying 
information. 


Page 24 of 44 
 
 If a participant is screened over the phone, the participant will be re-screened in-person.  
If a participant is not eligible during the phone screening or in-person screening, research assessors can 
re-contact the potential participant in the future to be re-screened. The decision to re-screen will be 
based on the cause of their ineligibility (i.e. HIV-negative individuals will not be re-contacted) and the 
likelihood that their eligibility will change (i.e. those who do not present a normal creatinine level at the 
first re-screening will not be re-contacted as kidney function will be unlikely to change). Decisions for re-
screening will be clinically decided.  
Participants’ screening IDs will be linked to their subject ID in a separate REDCap project. Contact 
information will also be collected on this REDCap project. Study data will be collected on REDCap and 
organized by either screening ID or study ID.  
4.3 INFORMED CONSENT 
Research assessors will conduct the consent process as well as obtain written consent. After eligibility 
and interest in enrollment is determined, an RA will administer and document the informed consent of 
the participant in a private location. The study will be explained to eligible participants who will be 
offered participation in the study. Research assessors will answer any questions the participants may 
have including risks, benefits and alternatives (including non-participation) to participation, and will 
provide written materials describing the study. If participants are unsure whether they would like to 
participate, they will be allowed any amount of time they need to consider participation in the study. If 
the participant is not able to make a decision on the day of the initial visit, s/he will be invited to contact 
the study team once they have made their decision, at which point s/he will be re-screened, if more than 
3 days have passed since his/her initial screening. The written informed consent (in Russian), including 
the risks, benefits and alternatives, will be signed by the participant and the research assessor. As part of 
the informed consent process we will make it explicit to participants that their involvement in the study 
does not constitute medical treatment and that they will not receive any HIV medical care as part of the 
study. We will provide a handout with information on addiction and HIV treatment services to 
participants at the baseline visit. A copy of the informed consent will be provided to the participant and a 
copy will be maintained by the research team. The time the administration of the informed consent 
began, and the time the informed consent form was dated and signed by the participant will be captured 
in the study website. Potential participants will be informed that refusal to participate will not affect their 
medical care at PSMU in any way and they will be informed of their right to drop out of the study at any 
time.  
4.4 VISIT FLOW 
Pre-screen (optional):  
• Screening questions administered over the phone 
Screening visit: 
• Screening Questions 
• Informed Consent and Enrollment  


Page 25 of 44 
 
• Conduct HIV, urine drug test, draw blood for AST/ALT and Creatinine testing (if recent test result 
not provided), and pregnancy testing  
• Compensate participant, collect locator/contact information and check contact phone numbers 
• Schedule return visit, if eligible 
• Provide resource document, appointment reminder card 
Baseline visit:  
• Review and update locator/contact information, verifying new numbers, as necessary 
• Conduct urine drug testing and pregnancy testing 
• Administer naloxone challenge 
• Administer assessment questionnaire 
• Assess baseline symptoms 
• Randomize participant 
• Conduct cold-pressor test  
• Draw blood for biomarker, CD4, and HVL testing 
• Introduce study medication and instructions and develop an adherence plan 
• Provide study medication 
• Observe participant for 30 minutes after the participant takes the first dose  
• Compensate participant; provide appointment reminder card, participation card, daily diary, and 
schedule next visit 
1-, 2-, 6-, and 7-week medication visit: 
• Review and update locator/contact information, verifying new numbers, as necessary 
• Collect a urine sample to check for pregnancy (females only)  
• Draw blood for ALT/AST testing, if indicated (6-week only) 
• Administer a brief assessment of tolerability and side effects 
• Assess medication adherence  
• Provide study medication (1-week, 2-week, 4-week, 6-week visits) 
• Compensate participant and schedule next visit 
4-, 8-, and 12-week full study visit: 
• Review and update locator/contact information, verifying new numbers, as necessary 
• Collect a urine sample to check for pregnancy (4-week only, females only)  
• Assess medication adherence  
• Administer assessment questionnaire  
• Conduct cold-pressor test 
• Draw blood for ALT/AST (4-week, and 6-week if indicated only) and biomarker, CD4, and HVL (8-
week only) testing  
• Provide study medication (4-week only) 
• Compensate participant and schedule next visit (4- and 8-week only) 


Page 26 of 44 
 
4.5 QUALITY ASSURANCE 
Informed consent quality assurance 
The RA will review Informed Consent Forms (ICFs) for completeness with the participant present. Items 
to check will include, but are not limited to: responses/initials collected for all questions, correct version 
of ICF used, signed and dated by both subject and RA. Both the RA and project manager will review ICFs 
weekly for completeness.  
Assessment quality assurance 
During the assessment, if the participant provides conflicting answers or answers that did not make 
logical sense (either within the same section or between sections), the RA will gently try to help the 
participant arrive at more logical answers. However, the RA will not force the participant to change his or 
her answers. Certain quality assurance checks are built into the assessment. The system will flag any 
inappropriate responses and prevent the RA from continuing until the issue is resolved. The RA will 
never guess to correct a mistake. The only instance when a change can be made to the completed 
assessment is in the event that the RA is 100% certain that an error was made in data entry.  
4.6 COMPENSATION 
Participants will receive the equivalent of US $8 in goods or cash for the screening visit, as this will 
require the collection of blood for laboratory testing. Participants will receive $15 in goods or cash for 
their participation in baseline. Participants will receive the equivalent of US $8 in goods or cash for the 
short check-in visits at weeks 1 and 7, the equivalent of US $12 in goods or cash for 2-, 4- and 6-week 
visits, and the equivalent of $23 in goods or cash for 8- and 12-week visits, which will require the 
collection of blood for laboratory testing (8-week only) and cold pressor testing.  
4.7 RETENTION 
Baseline visit: Retention begins at baseline by ensuring that the participant enjoys the experience of 
participating in the study, by explaining the informed consent and what would happen in the study, and 
by collecting excellent contact information, including both the address where the participant is registered 
and the address where the participant is currently staying.  Participants will be asked to provide contact 
information for 4-5 alternative contacts who may know their whereabouts. Alternative contacts can 
include friends, family members, and social workers. Participants will be asked if any of their friends are 
participating in the study and to include them as alternative contacts, if possible. Contact numbers must 
be verified by calling the numbers with the participant present, using the following script: 
I am calling from Pavlov University. Your friend/relative [NAME] is here with me and just enrolled 
in a study. He/she has listed you as an alternative contact. We will only call you if we are having 
trouble reaching [NAME] to see if you can help us connect with them. Today I am just calling to 
confirm that this number is active. 
If the alternate contact cannot be reached at the baseline visit, the RA will try to reach the contact again at 
the next in-person study visit. If the RA is unable to reach the contact at the following study visit, the 


Page 27 of 44 
 
participant will be asked to provide a different alternative contact. Participants will also be asked for 
their email address and membership to any social networking platforms.  
All visits: Participants will be offered tea, coffee, water, and snacks at each study visit to make their 
experience in the research study more enjoyable. 
RA will offer to help participants add the next scheduled study visit to the calendar in their phone and set 
a reminder in their phone.  
Follow-up visits: Contact information for participant and alternatives will be reviewed and updated at 
every visit. 
Other strategies: Participants will be contacted by telephone with appointment reminders and email, if 
one is provided. The study team will also utilize social networking to connect with participants. If 
participants are unable to be reached via phone, in addition to attempting to reach them via text 
messaging and email, participants will be sent private messages on Vkontakte (Russian social network) 
utilizing an existing standard script to remind them of their upcoming study visit.  No sensitive 
information will be revealed or ascertained using this method. Study participants will be asked to contact 
the study team if their phone number changes between study visits; participants will be compensated 
300 rubles in goods or currency for this information. All no-shows will be followed up to reschedule 
appointments.  
Transportation will be arranged (i.e., a social taxi or Uber) for participants who are unable to come to 
First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University due to a lack of available transportation.  
5. ASSESSMENTS 
5.1 BASELINE ASSESSMENT 
Participants will be assessed as part of this study using validated interview instruments covering the 
following topics: 
• Demographics (marital status, education, employment, individual Income/security, date of birth, 
spouse HIV status, living situation) 
• Alcohol use by the Timeline Followback (TLFB) calendar method with a 30-day assessment4,5 
o Participants will also be provided with a calendar to record daily alcohol use. They will be 
asked to complete this calendar at home and bring it back to all subsequent study visits. 
The calendar will be used as an aid by the RA when completing the TLFB with the 
participant.  
• Alcohol Use Disorder using the AUDIT (baseline only).6 
• Alcohol craving measured by the Penn Alcohol Craving Score7 
• Depressive symptoms through the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)8 
• Anxiety by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7)9 
• ART use and adherence, using modified Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group (AACTG) ART adherence 
questions10 


Page 28 of 44 
 
• Co-morbidities by an adapted Veterans Aging Cohort Study patient questionnaire11 
• HIV symptoms through a validated HIV Symptom Index from the NIAID Adult AIDS Clinical Trials 
Group 
• Prescription and non-prescription medication use  
• Brief Pain Inventory using a modified Short Form of the Russian Brief Pain Inventory12 
• Adjunct treatments of pain 
• Drug use and HIV Risk Behaviors by an adapted version of the Risk Behavior Survey13,14  
o Participants will be asked about lifetime use and past 30 days use. 
• General health, quality of life, and cognitive function by the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey 
(VR-12) and the Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV)15,16 
 
5.2 FOLLOW-UP ASSESSMENTS 
Content of assessments administered at the 4-, 8-, and 12-week visits will be subsets of the baseline 
assessment. Please see table of study questionnaires at the end of this section. Sections not administered 
at baseline, but administered at follow-up visits include: 
• Medication adherence using modified Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group (AACTG) ART adherence 
questions10 
• Medication satisfaction via the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM)17  
• Medication tolerability using modified Adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group (AACTG) ART adherence 
questions10 
5.2.A. MEDICATION VISITS ASSESSMENTS 
Medication adherence and symptoms will be assessed at weeks 1, 2, 6, and 7. 
 
 
Treatment 
Post-
Treatment 
 
 
 
 
Administered Assessment 
Baseline 
1-week 2-week 4-week 6-week 7-week 8-week 12-week 
Demographics 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30-day Alcohol Timeline 
Followback (TLFB) 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Alcohol Use Disorder 
(AUDIT) 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alcohol Craving 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Depressive Symptoms (CES-
D) 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Anxiety (GAD-7) 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
ART Use & Adherence 
(Adherence at baseline & 
12-week only) 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Co-Morbidities  
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Page 29 of 44 
 
HIV Symptom Index 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
HIV Risk Behaviors 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Medications 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Brief Pain Inventory 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Self Management of Pain 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Drug Use (modified RBS) 
 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
VR-12 Health Survey & MOS 
HIV 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
Baseline Symptom 
Monitoring 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Follow-Up Symptom 
Checklist 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Medication Adherence  
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Medication Satisfaction 
(TSQM) 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
 
Medication Tolerability  
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. PARTICIPANT SAFETY 
Participant safety will be monitored every two weeks and more frequently, if necessary.  
6.1. SPECIFICATION OF SAFETY PARAMETERS 
An Adverse Event (AE) is defined as any untoward or unfavorable medical occurrence in a human 
subject, including any abnormal sign (for example, abnormal physical exam or laboratory finding), 
symptom, or disease, temporally associated with the subject’s participation in the research, whether or 
not considered related to the subject’s participation in the research.  
An AE can therefore be any new sign, reaction, symptom, event, disease or a worsening in frequency or 
severity of a preexisting condition that occurs during the course of the study.  
Stable chronic conditions that were present prior to study entry and do not worsen are not considered AEs. 
SERIOUS Adverse Event (SAE) – for an event to be defined as serious, it will be Grade 1-6 below.  Grade 
0 would be “not serious”.  
Grade (1) results in death; 
Grade (2) is life-threatening (places the subject at immediate risk of death from the event as it occurred); 
Grade (3) results in inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization; 
Grade (4) results in a persistent or significant disability/incapacity; 
Grade (5) results in a congenital anomaly/birth defect; or 


Page 30 of 44 
 
Grade (6) based upon appropriate medical judgment, may jeopardize the subject's health and may 
require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the other outcomes listed in this definition 
(examples of such events include allergic bronchospasm requiring intensive treatment in the emergency 
room or at home, blood dyscrasias or convulsions that do not result in inpatient hospitalization, or the 
development of drug dependency or drug abuse). 
Unanticipated Problem (UP) – for an event to be an Unanticipated Problem it must  
- 
be unexpected AND 
- 
be related or possibly related to participation in the research AND 
- 
suggest that the research places subjects or others at a greater risk of harm (including physical, 
psychological, economic, or social harm) than was previously known or recognized. OR meet the 
definition of SERIOUS 
Suspected Adverse Drug Reaction – Any adverse event for which there is a reasonable possibility that 
the drug caused the adverse event. Reasonable possibility means there is evidence to suspect a causal 
relationship. It is considered unexpected if it is not consistent with the risk information described in the 
general investigational plan. A suspected adverse drug reaction will be defined as a recorded adverse 
event that is unexpected and deemed to be possibly, probably, or definitely related to the study drug. 
6.2 THE METHODS AND TIME FOR ASSESSING, RECORDING, AND ANALYZING SAFETY PARAMETERS 
• Participant symptoms will be assessed at baseline to document any chronic conditions or symptoms 
that existed prior to introduction of study medication. These will be documented on the Baseline AE 
log. This list will be reviewed and compared to reported events throughout the study. If the 
participant reports the same ongoing symptom (same severity) during subsequent visits, the symptom 
should not be recorded as an Adverse Event (AE). If the event is new (not previously reported) or 
worsened, as determined by RA, then the AE should be reported. 
 
• During each scheduled visit, the RA will ask the participant how he or she feels and review the list of 
symptoms of concern (starting with the symptoms recorded at the previous visit). Any event that 
meets the above criteria for an AE/SAE/UP must be recorded. In the case of unresolved AEs, clinical 
staff will update the AE log with any follow-up information that is gathered during their investigation. 
 
• The site will receive the results of all blood work that is performed on study participants from the 
designated lab. If the lab results meet the criteria described in the protocol as an AE and are 
considered clinically significant by the site clinician then an AE will be recorded. See  
“Discontinuation of Medications” for severe hepatoxicity thresholds. 
 
o Participants will be alerted of abnormal lab results and will receive a recommendation to see 
their local provider. All abnormal lab results obtained at the baseline visit will be listed on the 
Baseline AE log.   
 


Page 31 of 44 
 
• 
All AEs will be assessed to determine if they meet criteria for a Serious Adverse Event (SAE).  Jeffrey 
Samet, MD, MA, MPH and Judith Tsui, MD, MPH will be designated to distinguish a serious adverse 
event (SAE) from a non-serious adverse event. Drs. Evgeny Krupitsky, MD, PhD, D.Med Sci and Elena 
Blokhina, MD. PhD will monitor SAE and AE on site.  If the AE is serious, then the SAE form must be 
completed and appropriate reporting measures followed (see below). Investigators are encouraged to 
consult with the US team, if they are uncertain how to classify an event.  
 
• The list of subject’s current medications will be reviewed and updated at every study visit, starting at 
baseline. 
The study will take place in a medical setting where standard procedures are in place to assist patients 
who experience acute events. If consequences arise due to research procedures (e.g. distress, anxiety, 
suicidal thoughts,) the physician investigators will be available to assess participants and make 
appropriate interventions or referrals based on the clinical circumstances. Any participant who voices 
current suicidality, is experiencing a psychiatric emergency, or expresses the intent to harm others 
during the assessments will be reported to an on-site physician, immediately. That physician will 
determine the appropriate course of action, which will depend on location of the event and the clinical 
situation. Patients will be escorted to receive care by appropriate staff if deemed necessary. 
• If an event is discovered outside of the scheduled study visits, it must still be recorded accordingly.  
• Action Taken will be determined by the RAs for all AEs that are Mild and Moderate (unless specified 
below) and by Dr. Krupitsky or Dr. Blokhina for SAEs and AEs that are severe, life-threatening or fatal. 
6.3. PROCEDURES FOR ELICITING REPORTS OF AND FOR RECORDING AND REPORTING ADVERSE EVENT AND 
INTERCURRENT ILLNESSES 
For any reported side effect: While with the participant, study personnel will listen, identify, and 
document the symptoms. The following symptoms will be assessed at baseline and during medication 
check-ins and study visits while participant is taking the study medication. All events will be documented 
on the Symptom Checklist and on AE forms.  
Symptom 
Agitation and/or Irritability 
Anger 
Depressed mood 
Anxiety (includes nervousness and panic attacks) 
Insomnia and/or other sleep problems 
Abnormal dreams and/or nightmares 
Headaches 
Dizziness/lack of coordination 
Nausea and/or vomiting 
Joint/muscle pain 
Abdominal pain/cramps 


Page 32 of 44 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.3.A. OTHER EVENTS 
• Other events may or may not be associated with study drug use, but will be recorded, AE form 
completed and Dr. Blokhina or Dr. Krupitsky will be notified immediately to address the report.  
• Dr. Blohkina or Dr. Krupitsky will evaluate the reported symptoms using clinical judgment to 
determine if they are related to the study and if study medication should be adjusted or ceased. 
• If Dr. Blokhina or Dr. Krupitsky determine that study medications should be ceased, study personnel 
will attempt to contact the participant as soon as possible. 
• If applicable, staff can advise participants to contact their physician immediately or call emergency 
services. 
• Participants will receive a card to provide to medical staff in the case of a hospitalization or 
emergency stating that they are involved in a research study and are randomized to one of two study 
medications or placebo.  
Fatigue 
Drowsiness 
Difficult speaking 
Tremor 
Jerky movements 
Fever 
Double vision 
Swelling (legs or feet) 
Unusual eye movement 


Page 33 of 44 
 
6.3.B. ADVERSE EVENT REPORTING 
The following information should be present to complete AE and SAE forms during the initial report (on 
the day of finding out about the event):  
• Description of the event 
• Date of onset and resolution (if known) 
• Severity – based on established criteria: 
https://ctep.cancer.gov/protocoldevelopment/electronic_applications/docs/CTCAE_v5_Quick_Ref
erence_5x7.pdf * See Box 1 
 
• Assessment of expectedness (is the event anticipated in terms of nature, severity, or frequency) 
given (a) the research procedures that are described in the IRB protocol and informed consent 
document; and (b) the characteristics of the subject population being studied 
• Assessment of relatedness to study drug 
Box 1. Guidelines for Severity Grades 
*Research assessor will refer to the guide for unique clinical descriptions of severity for each AE, which will 
follow the general guideline below: 
• 
Grade 1 Mild; asymptomatic or mild symptoms; clinical or diagnostic observations only intervention not 
indicated. 
• 
Grade 2 Moderate; minimal, local or noninvasive intervention indicated; limiting age-appropriate 
instrumental activities ADL*. 
• 
Grade 3 Severe or medically significant but not immediately life-threatening; hospitalization or prolongation 
of hospitalization indicated; disabling; limiting self-care ADL**. 
• 
Grade 4 Life-threatening consequences; urgent intervention indicated. 
• 
Grade 5 Death related to AE. 
Not all Grades are appropriate for all AEs. Therefore, some AEs are listed with fewer than five options for Grade 
selection. Grade 5 (Death) is not appropriate for some AEs and therefore is not an option. 
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) 
*Instrumental ADL refer to preparing meals, shopping for groceries or clothes, using the telephone, managing 
money, etc. 
**Self care ADL refer to bathing, dressing and undressing, feeding self, using the toilet, taking medications, and 
not bedridden. 


Page 34 of 44 
 
• Any actions taken 
Following the initial report, additional information may need to be gathered to complete the AE 
and SAE forms and to evaluate the event for relatedness. This process may include obtaining 
hospital discharge reports, physician records, autopsy records or any other type of records or 
information necessary to provide a complete and clear picture of the SAE and events preceding 
and following the event.  
• All adverse events (including serious adverse events) will be followed until the event is resolved, 
stabilized, or until the end of individual’s participation in the study. Study investigators and 
clinicians will determine a follow-up plan (i.e., frequency and type of follow-up) on a case-by-case 
basis based on their clinical judgment. 
6.3.C. SAE REPORTING 
If the SAE is not resolved or stabilized at this time or new information becomes available after the SAE 
form is completed, the SAE form should be updated as soon as possible. Any changes or updates to the 
SAE form will need to be re-reviewed and re-authorized by the study clinician. 
In some cases, the study clinician may be unsure upon first learning of an SAE whether it is study related 
and/or expected, because study staff are awaiting more complete medical records. In such cases, the 
study clinician should make his/her best estimate of relatedness and expectedness, understanding that 
these determinations can be updated later. When updating determinations at a later date, the rationale 
for the change should be included in the SAE narrative. 
SAEs and unanticipated events which are considered “at least possibly related” during the treatment and 
follow-up phases will be reported to the local IRB and to NIAAA within 48 hours of knowledge of the SAE 
and all other SAEs and unanticipated events will be reported within the time period mandated by the 
local IRB as indicated below.  
The site must actively seek information about the SAE until the SAE is resolved, stabilized or until the 
participant is lost to follow-up and terminated from the study.  
To summarize: upon determining an Adverse Event is Serious, the following procedures should be 
followed: 
•  The study staff, while meeting/talking with the participant or person providing details on the event, 
will gather as much information about the event from the participant as possible and complete the 
appropriate forms.  
•  The completed AE and SAE forms will be reviewed by key personnel on the Pavlov team (e.g. Evgeny 
or Elena). Any relevant clinical documents (labs, physician notes) available at that time will be 
provided to key personnel on the Pavlov team (e.g. Dr. Krupitsky or Dr. Blokhina) within 24 hours of 
finding out about the event. 
•  After initial notification, the SAE must be updated with any additional information.  


Page 35 of 44 
 
All unanticipated problems must be reported to the US team immediately.  
AEs and SAEs will be reported to the URBAN ARCH Data Safety Monitoring Board every six months and as 
needed.  
BUMC Reporting Guidelines:  
Reporting to the Boston Medical Center and Boston University Medical Campus IRB 
Information 
Description  
Form to use 
When to Report 
1. Unanticipated 
Problem associated 
with a fatal or life-
threatening event 
A fatal or life-threatening event that 
qualifies as an Unanticipated Problem 
(event was unexpected AND 
related/possibly related AND suggests 
greater risk, see definitions above)  
Reportable Events and 
New Information  
 
     AND  
Within 2 days of the 
PI learning of a fatal 
or life-threatening 
event  
Change Request & 
Amendments addressing 
needed changes 
As soon as practical 
2. Unanticipated 
Problem NOT 
associated with a 
fatal or life-
threatening event 
An event that qualifies as an 
Unanticipated Problem (event was 
unexpected AND related/possibly related 
AND suggests greater risk, see definitions 
above) – whether or not it is also an 
Adverse Event or Serious Adverse Event 
Reportable Events and 
New Information  
 
     AND  
Within 7 days of the 
PI learning of event 
Change Request & 
Amendments addressing 
needed changes 
As soon as practical 
3. Safety Monitors’ 
Reports with 
recommended 
changes 
DSMB reports, Data Monitoring 
Committee reports, Adverse Event 
Monitoring Committee reports, audit 
reports, etc. with recommendations for 
changes to the study 
Reportable Events and 
New Information  
 
     AND  
Within 7 days of the 
PI receiving the 
recommendations 
Change Request & 
Amendments addressing 
needed changes 
As soon as practical 
4. Major Deviations 
A violation of IRB requirements or an 
unapproved change in the research study 
design or procedures that may affect the 
participant's rights, safety or well-being, 
that may affect the reliability of the study 
Reportable Events and 
New Information 
Within 7 days of the 
PI learning of the 
deviation  


Page 36 of 44 
 
data, or was the result of willful 
misconduct.  
5. Adverse Events 
that are NOT 
Unanticipated 
Problems 
All Adverse Events and Serious Adverse 
Events (see definitions above) that do NOT 
qualify as an Unanticipated Problem 
(event was expected OR unrelated OR 
suggests no new risk).  
Continuing Review 
Submission: 
• Section 4 if a Data 
Safety Monitoring 
Board (DSMB) report 
• Section 5 if no DSMB 
(AE/SAE summary 
report - must include 
PI’s conclusion that the 
pattern of events does 
not suggest a greater 
risk of harm) 
At the time of 
Continuing Review 
6. Safety Monitors’ 
Reports without 
recommended 
changes 
DSMB reports, Data Monitoring 
Committee reports, Adverse Event 
Monitoring Committee reports, audit 
reports etc. without recommended 
changes to the study 
Attached to Continuing 
Review Submission 
Section 4 (The most recent 
report must be attached) 
At the time of 
Continuing Review 
Pavlov Reporting Guidelines:  
 
What Event is Reported 
When is Event Reported 
Fatal or life-threatening unexpected, suspected serious 
adverse reactions 
Within 7 calendar days of initial receipt of 
information 
Non-fatal, non-life-threatening unexpected, suspected 
serious adverse reactions 
Within 15 calendar days of initial receipt of 
information 
AEs and UPs 
On a quarterly basis 
6.4. THE TYPE AND DURATION OF THE FOLLOW-UP OF SUBJECTS AFTER ADVERSE EVENTS 
All non-mild adverse events (including serious adverse events) should be followed until the event is 
resolved, stabilized, or until the end of individual’s participation in the study. Dr. Blokhina or Dr. 
Krupitsky will determine a follow-up plan on a case-by-case basis based on their clinical judgment. 
6.5. UNBLINDING PROTOCOL  
Participants may be unblinded if there is an urgent medical need, as determined by the clinician 
evaluating the participant.  If a participant is unblinded, study medication may be discontinued.  


Page 37 of 44 
 
The following are examples of events that may result in emergency unblinding:  
-An SAE occurs that is thought to be most likely or definitely related to the study drug. 
-An AE or SAE occurs and the clinician treating the patient concludes that knowledge of the treatment 
arm is necessary to determine the therapy provided to the patient. 
-The study drug is accidentally ingested by a child. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.6. DATA SAFETY AND MONITORING BOARD 
The DSMB is responsible for ensuring subject safety (by reviewing blinded and unblinded safety data on a 
regular basis and assessing the safety of study procedures) and for monitoring the overall conduct of the 
study. No interim efficacy analyses will be conducted.   
The DSMB is an independent group advisory to the PIs and the NIAAA, and is required to provide 
recommendations about starting, continuing, temporarily suspending the trial until certain conditions 
are met, and stopping the studies.  In addition, the DSMB is asked to make recommendations, as 
appropriate, about: 
• Benefit/risk ratio of procedures and participant burden 
• Selection, recruitment, and retention of participants 
• Protocol violations and adherence to protocol requirements  
• Completeness, quality, and analysis of measurements  
• Amendments to the study protocol and consent forms 
Participant experiences an event that may require unblinding. 
Dr. Krupitsky/Dr. Blokhina assesses if the event requires emergency 
unblinding. 
Request for emergency unblinding sent to the Pavlov pharmacist; Dr. 
Samet or Dr. Tsui are alerted. Only Dr. Blokhina/Dr. Krupitsky receive 
unblinding information; it is not shared with assessors. 
Unblinding not 
done 


Page 38 of 44 
 
• Participant safety 
• Notification of and referral for abnormal findings 
 
The Board will be composed of three full members (inclusive of the DSMB Chair) and 1 adjunct member.   
Full Members of the DSMB are: 
1. 
Theodore Colton, ScD (Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, BUSPH), Chair of DSMB 
2. 
Josiah Rich, MD (Professor of Medicine, Brown Medical School) 
3. 
Jesse Stewart, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University 
Indianapolis) 
This DSMB will meet every six months.  In cases where Institutional Review Boards or the NIH require 
more frequent monitoring, procedures will be put into place to conform to those requirements. An 
agenda will be provided detailing the studies to be discussed.  It is estimated that the meeting will be 
scheduled for 1.5 hours. Each protocol and data review meeting will consist of two sessions:  Open 
Session and Closed Session. Communication in the interim will be as needed. Unscheduled meetings can 
be requested by any party with the responsibility of overseeing the study.  Requests can be made to the 
DSMB Chair, PIs, or NIAAA officials. The Chair, in collaboration with the Admin Core or NIAAA, will 
schedule any unplanned meetings. 
The DSMB will provide recommendations about temporarily suspending or stopping the study. No 
interim efficacy or futility analyses are planned because of the risk level of the study and because patient 
outcomes are very unlikely to be worse in the intervention group in the study. The study team, including 
the project manager, statistician, co-investigators and research associates, led by the PIs, will evaluate the 
progress of the study, including periodic assessments of data quality, participant recruitment, accrual and 
retention, and factors external to the study when interpreting the data, such as scientific developments or 
the new availability of proven clinical services that could have an impact on the safety of the participants, 
the performance of the study or the ethics of the study.  
7. DATA MANAGEMENT 
7.1 DATA COLLECTION 
All study data will be captured electronically on netbooks via a secure, web-based data capture system 
with the exception of: TLFB data and daily pain diaries, which will be collected on paper calendars.  
7.2 QUALITY CONTROL PROCESS 
Quality control measures will include: detailed and unambiguous specifications for completion of data 
forms, including rules for coding skipped questions and missing data, training of study staff responsible 
for data collection and built-in validation rules, error checks, and question skips for electronic data 


Page 39 of 44 
 
capture. All data, regardless of capture method, will be reviewed for logic, skip patterns, response ranges, 
and internal inconsistencies. The RAs will be queried monthly regarding any noted inconsistencies. 
7.3 DATA SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY 
Screening forms and most other research paperwork will not include the participant’s name; instead, a 
unique ID will be assigned to each person screened, and another number assigned to those who enroll.  
 
Tracking information will be kept similarly. Computer data will be password protected, and accessible 
only to research associates needing the information for follow-up purposes.  
Any documents with identifiable participant data will only be accessible to the Russian Co-Investigators 
(Drs. Krupitsky and Zvartau), the project manager, and the RAs who recruit and follow participants, and 
perform QC.  
Boston University School of Public Health’s Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center 
(BEDAC) will design, develop and maintain the electronic data collection forms, participant and data 
tracking, and underlying SQL database systems, and implement procedures for data quality control, 
including multiple checks for entered data. Electronic data collection forms will be designed to read 
easily, have clear instructions, preprogrammed skip patterns, real-time range checks and internal logic to 
minimize missing data and result in “cleaner” data at capture. 
Electronic research data will be entered directly into REDCap, which is maintained on secure BU servers. 
All central systems are secured physically behind two card-access doors with access to the primary door 
restricted to key personnel. Data will be kept indefinitely. The mastercode will be kept separate from any 
study data. 
Assessment data will be collected directly onto computers by research assessors. Use of electronic data 
collection will obviate the need for double data entry and limit missing data through required fields. All 
data will be converted to SAS datasets and reviewed for logic, skip patterns, response ranges, and 
internal inconsistencies. The Boston and Russian teams will work together to resolve data issues.  
 
7.4 WEB SYSTEMS 
The study will use REDCap. REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys 
and databases and will be used for screening and assessments purposes. Study forms will be completed 
according to the schedule below. 
 
 
FORM 
 
 
 
STUDY VISIT 
Phon
e 
Scre
en  
Screen & 
Baseline Visit 
1 
week 
visit 
2 
week 
visit 
4 
week 
visit 
6 
week 
visit  
7 
week 
visit 
8 
week 
visit  
12 
week 
visit 
As 
Needed 
Scre
en  
Baselin
e 


Page 40 of 44 
 
Pre-Screener  
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Screener  
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consent and 
enrollment form 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Full assessment  
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
 
Short assessment 
(adherence) 
 
 
 
X 
X 
 
X 
X 
 
 
 
Baseline Event Form 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Medication visit 
checklist 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
Symptom Monitoring 
Form 
 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
Naloxone Challenge 
Form 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contact info 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
Contact log 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Baseline tracking form 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Follow-up tracking 
form 
 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
Lab forms 
 
X 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
 
 
Study conclusion form 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
AE/SAE form (paper 
and electronic form) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Medication collection 
(paper form)  
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
8. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 
This study will use an intent-to-treat analysis that includes all participants according to their randomized 
assignment. Descriptive statistics will be calculated for variables at baseline and each follow-up time to 
assess whether there appear to be any differences across treatment arms.  
The main focus of this aim is the assessment the impact of each intervention (naltrexone, gabapentin, or 
placebo) on the primary study outcome (i.e., the continuous variable change in pain severity from 
baseline to week 8).  
8.1 PRIMARY ANALYSES 
Descriptive statistics and graphic displays of all outcome measures will be generated.  


Page 41 of 44 
 
The main analysis evaluating the impact of each intervention on the primary study outcome (i.e., the 
continuous variable change in pain severity and pain interference from baseline to week 8) will use 
multiple regression models to estimate mean differences between arms along with 95% confidence 
intervals. The models will include indicator variables to represent study arm. The 2 primary comparisons 
of interest are between each intervention vs. placebo, i.e., naltrexone vs. placebo; gabapentin vs. placebo, 
and will adjust for the multiple comparisons using the Hochberg sequential test procedure.18 We will 
compare naltrexone vs. gabapentin but these tests will be of secondary interest. If the data are normally 
distributed, multiple linear regression models will be used. However, if the distribution of change in pain 
severity is skewed, transformations of the data will be performed (e.g., log transformation). If an 
appropriate transformation is not identified, a median regression model will be used. Secondary 
outcomes (e.g., changes in biomarkers, cold pain tolerance) are continuous variables and will be analyzed 
using the same approach as above. 
9. REPOSITORY 
9.1 PURPOSE 
Data will be collected for the purposes of HIV/alcohol research and placed in the existing Uganda Russia 
Boston Alcohol Network for Alcohol Research Collaboration on HIV/AIDS (URBAN ARCH) Consortium 
Sample Repository (H-28658). The data and sample repository is a major asset of the Consortium to be 
utilized by all investigators and critical to future cross-cohort studies. This repository currently includes 
plasma, serum, whole blood, and DBS samples from the Consortium studies and is managed by the 
URBAN ARCH Admin and BDM Cores. Some of the stored samples have pre-designated uses per the study 
protocol, while others are stored for future studies, which will be used only with IRB approval. 
All data and samples collected as part of this study will be placed in the repository for future HIV 
research.  
9.2 STEWARDSHIP 
Drs. Samet and Krupitsky will hold responsibility for the repository and will oversee the storage, 
transportation, and usage of samples in the repository. Some of of the day-to-day management of the 
repository will be delegated to Natalia Gnatienko, and to the BUSPH Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data 
Analytics Center (BEDAC). BEDAC will directly oversee all of the stored samples, data and the web-based 
specimen tracking and inventory management system. 
9.3 RELEASE OF SAMPLES/DATA 
Investigators who propose using the repository data or samples will follow IRB procedures set forth by 
their own institution and will provide documentation that such requirements were met to the PI of the 
BUMC IRB repository protocol (Dr. Samet) prior to release of data or samples. If an institution does not 
have an IRB, the Admin Core will rely of their existing system of review to evaluate that the study or 
request is appropriate or valid enough to be sending samples or data to. The system in place requests 
that all external investigators, regardless of whether or not that have an IRB, complete and return the 
URBAN ARCH Consortium Project Proposal Attestation Form, URBAN ARCH Consortium Project Proposal 
Form and the BUMC Non-Engagement in Human Subjects Research Agreement (if applicable). 


Page 42 of 44 
 
 
All subject identifiers will remain at BMC/BU Medical Campus. Only coded samples/data will be given to 
other investigators/entities - BMC/BU Medical Campus investigators will maintain the master-code/key 
and will never release it to outsiders.  
 
10. STAFF TRAINING 
All study staff will be trained on the study protocol, including administration of study medication, 
symptom monitoring, cold-pressor testing, blood draws, and participant assessment prior to initiation of 
recruitment and enrollment. Training will take place in-person in St. Petersburg and via webinars. 
11. STUDY CONTACTS 
This study will be jointly directed by sharing responsibilities over the year among two PIs, each with 
distinct strengths applicable to this study. The PIs, Drs. Samet and Tsui, will provide overall scientific 
leadership for this study and are ultimately responsible for coordinating investigations and activities at 
the different sites and ensuring integrity of the scientific work.  
Dr. Samet will serve as the contact PI and will be responsible for the financial management of the study 
and communication between NIH and the rest of the leadership team. He will provide specific expertise 
on alcohol use and, given his extensive Russia, HIV, alcohol research experience, will manage the 
implementation of the study in Russia. Dr. Tsui will bring content expertise in the intersecting 
relationships of substance use and pain, as well as methodologic expertise in pain measurement. She will 
oversee all the components of the study and guide its direction by working with the research team. Drs. 
Samet and Tsui will share responsibility in monitoring the conduct of the entire study and interpreting 
and presenting final outcomes. 
Assignment of Responsibilities for PIs 


Page 43 of 44 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In Russia, the study will be led by site PI Dr. Evgeny Krupitsky. The study will be managed by Dr. Elena 
Blokhina and Dr. Vetrova in St. Petersburg and Sally Bendiks in Boston.  
 
References 
1.  
Goodman CW, Brett AS. A Clinical Overview of Off-label Use of Gabapentinoid Drugs. JAMA Intern 
Med. 2019;179(5):695. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.0086 
2.  
Mason BJ, Quello S, Goodell V, Shadan F, Kyle M, Begovic A. Gabapentin Treatment for Alcohol 
Dependence. JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(1):70. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.11950 
3.  
Springer SA, Altice FL, Herme M, Di Paola A. Design and methods of a double blind randomized 
placebo-controlled trial of extended-release naltrexone for alcohol dependent and hazardous 
drinking prisoners with HIV who are transitioning to the community. Contemp Clin Trials. 
2014;37(2):209-218. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2013.12.006 
4.  
Robinson SM, Sobell LC, Sobell MB, Leo GI. Reliability of the Timeline Followback for cocaine, 
cannabis, and cigarette use. Psychol Addict Behav. 2014;28(1):154-162. doi:10.1037/a0030992 
5.  
Sobell, L.C. Sobell MB. Alcohol Timeline Followback (TLFB) Users’ Manual. In: Addiction Research 
Foundation. Toronto, Canada; 1995. 
6.  
Babor TF, Higgins-Biddle JC, Saunders JB, Monteiro MG. AUDIT. The Alcohol Use Disorders 
Identification Test: Guidelines for Use in Primary Care.; 2001. 
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/67205/WHO_MSD_MSB_01.6a.pdf;jsessionid=
2D0203817A8A3BF869B92CBE29BE7AF3?sequence=1. Accessed February 1, 2019. 
7.  
Flannery BA, Volpicelli JR, Pettinati HM. Psychometric properties of the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale. 
Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1999;23(8):1289-1295. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10470970. 
Samet 
Tsui 
Responsibilities 
Primary 
 
Contact PD, responsible for communication with NIH and 
rest of Project Team 
Joint 
Joint 
Shared responsibility and authority for leading and 
directing the project intellectually and logistically 
Secondary 
Primary 
Providing expertise on questions on pain  
Primary 
Secondary 
Providing expertise on alcohol use and managing trial 
implementation in Russia 
Primary 
Secondary 
Budget, subcontract, and spending monitoring and 
approval 


Page 44 of 44 
 
Accessed August 23, 2019. 
8.  
Radloff LS. The CES-D Scale. Appl Psychol Meas. 1977;1(3):385-401. 
doi:10.1177/014662167700100306 
9.  
Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JBW, Löwe B. A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety 
Disorder. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166(10):1092. doi:10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092 
10.  
Chesney MA, Ickovics JR, Chambers DB, et al. Self-reported adherence to antiretroviral medications 
among participants in HIV clinical trials: The AACTG Adherence Instruments. AIDS Care. 
2000;12(3):255-266. doi:10.1080/09540120050042891 
11.  
Justice AC, P. Modur S, Tate JP, et al. Predictive accuracy of the veterans aging cohort study index 
for mortality with HIV infection: A north american cross cohort analysis. J Acquir Immune Defic 
Syndr. 2013;62(2):149-163. doi:10.1097/QAI.0b013e31827df36c 
12.  
Kalyadina SA, Ionova TI, Ivanova MO, et al. Russian Brief Pain Inventory: validation and application 
in cancer pain. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2008;35(1):95-102. 
doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2007.02.042 
13.  
Weatherby NL, Needle R, Cesari H, et al. Validity of self-reported drug use among injection drug 
users and crack cocaine users recruited through street outreach. Eval Program Plann. 
1994;17(4):347-355. doi:10.1016/0149-7189(94)90035-3 
14.  
Needle R, Fisher DG, Weatherby N, et al. Reliability of self-reported HIV risk behaviors of drug 
users. Psychol Addict Behav. 1995;9(4):242-250. doi:10.1037/0893-164X.9.4.242 
15.  
Wu AW, Revicki DA, Jacobson D, Malitz FE. Evidence for reliability, validity and usefulness of the 
Medical Outcomes Study HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV). Qual Life Res. 1997;6(6):481-493. 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9330549. Accessed February 4, 2019. 
16.  
RAND Health Care. HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study (HCSUS) implemented by the Agency for 
Health Care Policy Research (AHCPR) and RAND. https://www.rand.org/health-
care/projects/hcsus.html. 
17.  
Atkinson, MJ, Sinha, A, Hass, SL, Colman, SS, Kumar, R, Brod, M, Rowland C. Treatment Satisfaction 
Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM). 2004. https://eprovide.mapi-
trust.org/instruments/treatment-satisfaction-questionnaire-for-medication. 
18.  
Hochberg Y. A sharper Bonferroni procedure for multiple tests of significance. Biometrika. 
1988;75(4):800-802. 
 

ICF_000.pdf: 
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER AND THE 
BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE,
PUBLIC HEALTH AND DENTAL MEDICINE
Version 1(d)
RESEARCH CONSENT FORM
Basic Information
Title of Project: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gapabentin to Reduce Pain and 
Inflammation among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
IRB Number: H-39162
Sponsor: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Principal Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                jsamet@bu.edu
               801 Massachusetts Avenue, Crosstown, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02118
Study-Related Phone Numbers: Regular business hours: 7-812-234-4210
        24 hours: 7-952-097-8173
Overview
We are asking you to be in a research study. A research study is an organized way of collecting information 
about scientific questions. This form will tell you what you should expect if you agree to be in the study. There 
are programs in place to make sure that investigators fulfill their obligations listed in this form. 
It is your decision whether or not to join the study. We are doing the research to see if medications used to 
treat alcohol and opioid use disorders, gabapentin and low-dose naltrexone, improve pain, inflammation, and 
HIV outcomes among people with HIV and chronic pain, who also drink alcohol. If you agree, you will receive 
one of these two medications or a placebo. You will be in the study for 12 weeks if you decide to stay for the 
whole study. You will find more information about what will happen in this study later in this form. 
The main risks of being in the study are stress from research assessment, bruising and minor pain from blood 
draw, withdrawal symptoms from naloxone challenge, and medication side effects. You will find more 
information about risks later in this form. 
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to test if low-dose naltrexone and standard-dose gabapentin improve pain, 
inflammation, and HIV outcomes among HIV-positive persons with heavy alcohol use and chronic pain. 
What Will Happen in This Research Study
You will be one of approximately 45 participants to be asked to participate in this study.
The study is being carried out at First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University. 
Although your participation will be at the above mentioned location in Russia, your data will be transferred to 
Boston, Massachusetts (US) and Seattle, Washington (US): Boston Medical Center/ Boston University Medical 
Campus and the University of Washington for evaluation with the collaborative Russian-US research team.
The ways we will protect your privacy and confidentiality are described in a separate section later in this form.
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 2 of 10
Screening Visit:
As part of the screening process, you will receive a rapid HIV test if you were not previously a participant in the 
Russia ARCH, St PETER, LINC-II or the PETER PAIN study. You will also be asked to complete a urine drug 
test and pregnancy test, if female. We will also collect a blood sample (4 ml [1 teaspoon]) to measure liver 
status and creatinine levels, all of which will be collected at First. St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical 
University and sent for testing. If you brought in a copy of an ALT/AST and Creatinine result, dated within 4 
weeks of your screening visit, to determine eligibility, then you will not require the blood draw. The results of 
these tests will not be put in your medical record and you will not receive any HIV medical care as part of the 
study. If a lab value for a test performed at the time blood is drawn is abnormal, the research assessor will 
share the result with you and will recommend to see your local provider to discuss the results. Your name will 
not be on the samples and samples will only be identifiable using a number code. The key to the code will be 
kept secure. If you are found not to be eligible for the study, we will keep the data we collect, but the data will 
not have your name on it. If you are found not to be eligible for the study, we may re-contact you to be re-
screened.
Baseline Visit:
Once we have received your liver test results, we will notify you by phone and if eligible, you will be invited 
back to First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University for your baseline study visit. At the baseline visit, if 
you are female, you will have a urine pregnancy test. All participants will be administered a naloxone challenge 
to make sure there are no opioids in your system, as taking study medication with opioids in your system will 
make you feel sick. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids. It works only if it is injected and lasts about 30 
minutes. It is used in hospitals and by emergency services to reverse the effects of a heroin or other opioid 
overdose. It will cause withdrawal if injected into someone who is currently physically dependent on opioids 
and will be administered to you as a way of making sure that you are not physically dependent on heroin or 
other opioids before you are given study medication.   
The naloxone challenge will only be administered if your urine is negative for heroin or other opioids. The 
challenge will be done by administering 0.8-mg naloxone slowly intramuscularly. You will be observed by a 
research assessor for signs of withdrawal for 5-20 minutes. If you experience withdrawal after the naloxone 
test, your symptoms will be treated with clonidine or a benzodiazepine and will go away in 45-60 minutes. You 
will not be started on the study medication until you pass a naloxone challenge, which means that you have no 
signs or symptoms of opioid withdrawal after naloxone is administered.  
After successful completion of the naloxone challenge, you will be asked about demographics (e.g., age, 
gender), general and mental health, and health-related behaviors such as drug and alcohol use. It will take 
approximately 60 minutes to complete. If you participated in the Russia ARCH, St PETER, LINC-II, or PETER 
PAIN study, information collected about you as part of that study will become part of the research data for this 
study. We will ask you to keep a daily diary on paper to record your pain, medication adherence, and alcohol 
use. We will ask you to bring this diary to all study visits.
We will ask to take a blood sample from you (up to 20 ml [or 1-2 tablespoons]), which will be done at a
First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University laboratory. It will be used to analyze your blood for
markers related inflammation and HIV disease progression. The results of the tests will not be put in your 
medical record and you will not receive any HIV medical care as part of the study. If a lab value for a test 
performed at the time blood is drawn is abnormal, the research assessor, will share the result with you and will 
recommend to see your local provider to discuss the results.
You will also receive a cold-pressor test (CPT) at this visit. In brief, this test will see how long you can tolerate 
keeping your hand in a bucket of cold water. You will place your dominant hand and part of your arm in a tank 
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 3 of 10
filled with cold water that is kept at a constant temperature of 0-2 degrees Celsius. You will tell the study staff 
when you first begin to feel pain/discomfort. When you can no longer tolerate the pain/discomfort, you can 
remove your hand from the water. The study staff will be measuring the amount of time from when you first put 
your hand in the water to when you felt pain and when you withdrew your hand. After the test, you will be 
asked to rate the pain you felt on a scale of 0-100. You will be asked to refrain from over the counter analgesic 
use (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medications or acetaminophen) for 24 hours prior to your study visit, 
as this may affect your pain tolerance.
After completion of the baseline assessment and cold-pressor testing, you will be randomly placed in one of 
three study groups. Randomization means you will be randomly assigned to a group based on chance, like a 
flip of a coin. Neither you nor the researcher chooses your assigned group. You will have an equal chance of 
being in any group.
Group 1 – Low-dose naltrexone:
If you are in this group, you will receive low-dose naltrexone for a period of 8 weeks starting on the day 
of the baseline visit. You will be asked to take the medication once a day for the first week, and 
approximately three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) for 7 weeks. 
Group 2 – Standard-dose gabapentin:
If you are in this group, you will receive gabapentin for a period of 8 weeks starting on the day of the 
baseline visit. You will be asked to take the medication once a day for the first week, and approximately 
three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) for 7 weeks. 
Group 3 – Placebo
If you are in this group, you will receive drug capsules containing no active ingredient for a period of 8 
weeks starting on the day of the baseline visit. You will be asked to take the medication once a day for 
the first week, and approximately three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) for 7 weeks.
Study medication will be provided by trained physicians, who will instruct you in proper medication 
administration and adherence. After you take the first dose of the study medication, you will stay at Pavlov for a 
30 minute observation period. Neither you nor the study staff will know which of the three medications you will 
be taking. However, in an emergency situation, we can always find out which of the medications you’re taking 
by contacting the study pharmacist.  
Follow-Up Visits:
Medication check-ins
Participants in all groups will be asked to come in to First St. Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University for a 
short 15-20 minute medication adherence check visit 1, 2, 6, and 7 weeks after the baseline visit. During these 
check-ins, you will be monitored for any adverse events related to study medication. If you are experiencing 
any adverse events from the study medication, we may reduce your dose to one that you can tolerate better. 
We will administer a brief assessment of tolerability, side effects, and adherence. If you are female, you will be 
asked to provide a urine sample to check for pregnancy. 
In-person study visits
In addition to the short adherence check visits at 1, 2, 6, and 7 weeks, you will be asked to come to First St. 
Petersburg Pavlov State Medical University 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the baseline visit. During these visits, we 
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 4 of 10
will administer a questionnaire, collect a blood (4 ml [1 teaspoon]) and urine sample (for female participants), 
and conduct the cold-pressor test. The urine sample will be used to check for pregnancy at the 2, 4, 6 and 7-
week visits. The blood sample will be used to measure your liver status. If your blood test results at 4 weeks 
show that your liver enzymes are high, we will re-check your liver status at the 6-week visit, which means that 
we will collect a blood sample (4 ml [or 1 teaspoon]) during that visit. During the 8-week visit, additional blood 
will be collected (up to 20 ml or [1-2 tablespoons]). This blood sample will be used to analyze your blood for 
markers related to inflammation and HIV disease progression.
We will contact you via phone calls, text message, email, and/or letters to remind you about your follow-up 
appointments. 
All data that we collect from you as part of this study will be placed in a repository for future HIV research. 
When investigators want to perform a study on repository data, they will submit a study plan for review and 
approval and will need to obtain any necessary approvals, such as approval from their IRB, to carry out the 
work with repository data or samples. Prior to receiving the data and/or samples, the researchers will agree not 
to share the data and not to attempt to identify any individual participants. In all cases the data and/or samples 
will be released from the repository in coded form (i.e., names and contact details will not be included and 
data/samples will be identified by a subject ID number).
Risks and Discomforts
You may experience stress from the research assessments, as you will be asked sensitive questions regarding 
substance use and HIV status. The risk of stress from interviews will be minimized by using trained 
interviewers and a standard interview process. You may be stressed by the length of the interviews (estimated 
60 minutes). You will be allowed to stop at any time during the interviews to take a break and come back to 
complete them. 
You may experience bruising and minor pain as a result of the blood draw. Other risks such as infection are 
rare. These risks will be minimized by using trained phlebotomists to draw your blood.
If you have opioids in your system, you may experience withdrawal symptoms after the naloxone challenge, 
such as feeling sick, stomach cramps, muscle spasms, feelings of coldness, heart pounding, muscular tension, 
aches and pains, yawning, runny eyes, and insomnia. The symptoms usually resolve untreated within 45-
60min, but in rare occasions may require the use of clonidine and phenazepam. The most frequent side effects 
(which appear to be dose-related) of clonidine are dry mouth, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation and 
sedation. The most frequent side effects of phenazepam are drowsiness, sedation, muscle weakness, and 
ataxia. These side effects generally decrease on continued administration and are a consequence of CNS 
depression.
Some people have had side effects while taking these study medications. 
The most common side effects (reported in more than 1 in 10 people) of naltrexone are difficulty 
sleeping, anxiety, nervousness, abdominal pain/cramps, nausea and/or vomiting, low energy, joint and 
muscle pain, and headache.
Uncommon side effects (reported in less than 1 and 10 people, but more than 1 in 100 people) of 
naltrexone are loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, increased thirst, increased energy, feeling down, 
irritability, dizziness, skin rash, delayed ejaculation, decreased potency, and chills.
Rare side effects (reported in less than 1 in 100 people) of naltrexone include nasal congestion, itching, 
rhinorrhea, sneezing, sore throat, excess mucus or phlegm, sinus trouble, heavy breathing, 
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 5 of 10
hoarseness, cough, shortness of breath, nose bleeds, phlebitis, edema, increased blood pressure, non-
specific ECG changes, palpitations, tachycardia, excessive gas, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, ulcer, painful 
shoulders, legs or knees; tremors, twitching, increased frequency of, or discomfort during, urination; 
increased or decreased sexual interest, oily skin, pruritus, acne, athlete's foot, cold sores, alopecia, 
depression, paranoia, fatigue, restlessness, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, nightmares, bad 
dreams, eyes–blurred, burning, light sensitive, swollen, aching, strained ears–"clogged," aching, 
tinnitus, Increased appetite, weight loss, weight gain, yawning, somnolence, fever, and dry mouth.
Please note that these side effects were reported among people taking 50mg of naltrexone. This study 
will use low dose naltrexone (4.5mg) and side effects are expected to be milder. 
The most common side effects of gabapentin are lack of coordination, feeling tired, fever, feeling 
drowsy, jerky movements, nausea and vomiting, difficulty with coordination, difficulty with speaking, 
double vision, tremor, unusual eye movement, and swelling (usually of legs and feet). 
You should not drive, use heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how 
gabapentin affects you, as it can slow your thinking and motor skills. 
You should avoid drinking alcohol while on study medication, as drinking alcohol while taking 
Gabapentin may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.
Rare side effects of gabapentin (reported in about 1 in 500) include suicidal thoughts or actions. These 
may include thoughts about suicide or dying, attempts to commit suicide, new or worse depression, 
new or worse anxiety, feeling agitated or restless, panic attacks, trouble sleeping (insomnia), new or 
worse irritability, acting aggressive, being angry, or violent, acting on dangerous impulses, an extreme 
increase in activity and talking (mania), other unusual changes in behavior or mood.
Other side effects of gabapentin are serious or life-threatening allergic reactions that may affect your 
skin or other parts of your body such as your liver or blood cells. Symptoms may include skin rash, 
hives, difficulty breathing, fever, swollen glands that do not go away, swelling of your face, lips, throat, 
or tongue, yellowing of your skin or of the whites of your eyes, unusual bruising or bleeding, severe 
fatigue or weakness, unexpected muscle pain, frequent infections.
Be aware that in the event that gabapentin is used with opiates, it can increase the sedation side 
effects of opiates. Gabapentin when combined with CNS depressants, such as opioids, anti-anxiety 
medications, antidepressants, and antihistamines; can increase your risk of slowing or stopping your 
breathing. Your risk of slowing or stopping your breathing when taking gabapentin is also greater if you 
have an underlying medical condition, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. You should seek or 
be brought to medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms: confusion or 
disorientation, unusual dizziness or lightheadedness, extreme sleepiness, slowed, shallow or difficult 
breathing, unresponsiveness, or bluish-colored or tinted skin, especially on the lips, fingers, and toes.
In order to help prevent these adverse events, you will be asked not to take more medication than what is 
provided by the study. Study clinicians will also be monitoring for signs of medication overdose and misuse via 
pill counts and symptom monitoring. These adverse effects are not expected to be likely.  
The test of pain sensitivity (cold-pressor test) may cause some discomfort and pain. However, the discomfort 
experienced during testing is relatively mild and should only last for the duration of the testing. You are asked 
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 6 of 10
to withdraw your arm from the cold water bath when you feel pain. In order to avoid any cold injury, the cold-
pressor test will be stopped after 3 minutes if you do not withdraw your hand by then.
In the event of an emergency, in which you may require acute pain management, opioids may not be a 
therapeutic option for acute pain management while on the study drug. A 72-hour washout period is generally 
needed prior to effective use of opioids, and monitored use under anesthesia, if needed emergently. In 
addition, we will provide you with a wallet card to be presented to your provider to indicate that you are 
receiving one of two study medications with potential impact on pain management.
There may be unknown risks/discomforts involved. Study staff will update you in a timely way on any new 
information that may affect your health, welfare, or decision to stay in this study.
If you suspect that you have become pregnant during the study, you must notify the study doctor immediately. 
If you become pregnant while you are participating in this study, it could be dangerous for the baby. You must 
use birth control if you are a woman having sex with men while you are taking study medication and for 8 
weeks afterward. Some of the most effective birth control methods are: oral contraceptives (the pill), 
intrauterine devices (IUDs), contraceptive implants under the skin, contraceptive rings or patches or injections, 
diaphragms with spermicide and condoms with foam. You should not participate in this study if you are a 
woman who has sex with men and cannot use one of these birth control methods.
If at any time during a study interview you voice current suicidality, experience a psychiatric emergency, or 
express the intent to harm others, this will be reported to an on-site physician, immediately. That physician will 
determine the appropriate course of action, which will depend on location of the event and the clinical situation. 
You may be escorted to receive care by appropriate staff if deemed necessary.
Potential Benefits
You may not receive any benefits from participating in the study. However, you may benefit from discussing 
your health with an assessor and society may benefit from a better understanding of the effects of these 
medications on the health of HIV-positive people. 
Costs
There are no costs to you for being in this research study. You may incur costs traveling to and from study 
visits. All research procedures will be paid for by the study; these include assessments and tests. Outside of 
the study, you may choose to receive additional health services such as medical care, tests and/or 
medications. Payment for services outside of the study will not be paid for by the study.
Payment
You will receive 500 rubles in goods or cash for your participation in the screening visit, 1000 rubles in goods 
or cash for your participation in baseline, 800 rubles in goods or cash for your participation in 2-, 4-, and 6-
week visits, and 1500 rubles in goods or cash for your participation in 8- and 12-week visits. You will also be 
compensated for completing short medication visits at weeks 1 and 7, for a total of 500 rubles per visit. 
Confidentiality
We must use information that shows your identity to do this research. Information already collected about you 
will remain in the study record even if you later withdraw. 
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 7 of 10
We will store your information in ways we think are secure. We will store biological samples taken from your 
body (such as urine, blood, or tissue) in a laboratory in St. Petersburg, Russia. Your name will not be on the 
samples and samples will only be identifiable using a number code. The key to the code will be kept secure. 
The repository has standard operating procedures to protect your confidentiality. We will store paper files in 
locked filing cabinets. We will store electronic files in computer systems with password protection and 
encryption. We will do our best to keep your information safe. However, we cannot guarantee complete 
confidentiality.
This study is covered by a Certificate of Confidentiality (CoC) from the National Institutes of Health. All studies 
funded by the National Institutes of Health that involve identifiable information or biological samples are 
covered by a CoC. The CoC provides how we can share research information or biological samples. Because 
we have a CoC, we cannot give out research information or biological samples that may identify you to anyone 
that is not involved in the research except as we describe below. Even if someone tries to get your information 
or biological samples in connection with a legal proceeding, we cannot give it to them. The CoC does not 
prevent you from sharing your own research information. The Certificate of Confidentiality applies to 
information and samples collected for this study which are sent to or kept in the United States of America.
If you agree to be in the study and sign this form, we will share information and biological samples that may 
show your identity with the following groups of people:

People who do the research or help oversee the research, including safety monitoring. 

People from Federal and state agencies who audit or review the research, as required by law. Such 
agencies may include the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug 
Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

People who will get your data and your biological samples as we described in the section What Will 
Happen in This Research Study. These people are expected to protect your information and 
biological samples in the same way we protect it.

Any people who you give us separate permission to share your information.
Research assessment questionnaires will be completed with the majority of data entered directly into 
computers, which will require a username and password to logon to. Data will not have your name, only your 
unique study ID number. Locator contact information and the master enrollment list will have participant 
names. Paper forms will be kept in locked filing cabinets and electronic data will be stored on password 
protected computers. Study information will be accessible to study staff for purposes of conducting or 
monitoring the study. 
We will share research data where we have removed anything that we think would show your identity. There 
still may be a small chance that someone could figure out that the information is about you. Such sharing 
includes:

Publishing results in a medical book or journal.

Adding results to a Federal government database.

Using research data in future studies, done by us or by other scientists.

Using biological samples in future studies, done by us or by other scientists.
A description of this clinical trial will be available on http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, as required by U.S. Law. This 
Web site will not include information that can identify you. At most, the Web site will include a summary of the 
results. You can search this Web site at any time.
Information from this study may be reviewed and photocopied by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and 
Alcoholism and/or state and federal regulatory agencies such as the Office of Human Research Protection and 
the Institutional Review Board of Boston University Medical Center. Information from this study and from your 
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 8 of 10
medical record may be used for research purposes and may be published; however, your name will not be 
used in any publications. 
Compensation for Injury
If you think that you have been injured by being in this study, please let the investigator know right away. Use 
the phone number on the first page of this form. You should seek treatment at your local medical center. There 
is no program to provide compensation for the cost of care for research related injury or for other expenses. 
Other expenses might be lost wages, disability, pain, or discomfort. If you do not go to a state-operated facility 
you will be responsible for paying for the medical treatment you receive. You are not giving up any of your legal 
rights by signing this form.
Re-Contact
1) Data and sample repository
We would like permission to store your research data, including samples, for future studies. Please indicate 
below if you will allow that.
My research data, including samples, may be kept for future clinical, virological, and immunological studies 
related to HIV disease and other associated illnesses. Yes [ ]  ________(initial or sign )  No [ ] 
_________(initial or sign) 
If you would like to use my research data, including samples, for future studies not listed above, I am willing to 
be contacted about those studies for my permission. Yes [ ]  ________(initial or sign)  No [ ] _________(initial 
or sign) 
2) Future studies
We would like to be able to contact you in the future about additional studies for which you may be eligible.
[ ] Yes, I agree to be contacted after my active participate in this study has ended________(initial or sign )  
[ ] No, I do not give permission to be contacted after my active participate in this study has ended. 
________(initial or sign )  
Subject’s Rights
By consenting to be in this study you do not waive any of your legal rights. Consenting means that you have 
been given information about this study and that you agree to participate in the study. You will be given a copy 
of this form to keep.
If you do not agree to be in this study or if at any time you withdraw from this study you will not suffer any 
penalty or lose any benefits to which you are entitled. Your participation is completely up to you. Your decision 
will not affect your ability to get health care or payment for your health care. It will not affect your enrollment in 
any health plan or benefits you can get.
During this study, we may find out something that might make you not want to stay in the study. If this 
happens, we will tell you as soon as possible.
You may obtain further information about your rights as a research subject by calling the Ethical Committee of 
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 9 of 10
First St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical University at 7-812-338-6617. 
Questions
The investigator or a member of the research team will try to answer all of your questions. If you have 
questions or concerns at any time, contact EDWIN ZVARTAU at 7-812-338-7023 during the day and EVGENY 
KRUPITSKY at 7-952-097-8173 after hours. Also call if you need to report an injury while being in this 
research. 
You may also call 7-812-338-6617. You will be talking to someone at the St. Petersburg State Pavlov Medical 
University IRB. The IRB is a group that helps monitor research. You should call or email 
(spbgmutrials@yandex.ru) the IRB if you want to find out about your rights as a research subject. You should 
also call or email if you want to talk to someone who is not part of the study about your questions, concerns, or 
problems. 
Protection of Subject Health Information 
You have certain rights related to your health information. These include the right to know who will get your 
health information and why they will get it. If you choose to be in this research study, we will get information 
about you as explained below. You authorize Jeffrey Samet, Judith Tsui, and study staff at Boston Medical 
Center and the University of Washington, who are working on this research project and their employees to use 
and disclose information concerning you and your identity, medical history, and information collected during 
this study for the following purpose: to study alcohol use, chronic pain, and HIV disease progression. Such 
information may also be disclosed to or used by others involved in or overseeing the study including Boston 
University Medical Center Institutional Review Board and the study's sponsor, the United States National 
Institutes of Health (NIH). We share your health information only when we must. We ask anyone who gets it 
from us to protect your privacy. If you do not want to let us use your health information, you cannot be involved 
with this research study. This is because your health information is necessary to the conduct of this research. 
You may withdraw authorization to collect additional information about you at any time by writing to the local 
Principal Investigator, but information already collected may continue to be used and disclosed. This 
authorization has no expiration date.
Subject: _____________________________________________
  Printed name of subject
By signing this consent form, you are indicating that you have read this form (or it has been read to you), that 
your questions have been answered to your satisfaction, and that you voluntarily agree to participate in this 
research study.
_____________________________________________
___________
Signature of subject
      Date
Researcher: _____________________________________________
         Printed name of person conducting consent discussion
I have personally explained the research to the above-named subject and answered all questions. I believe 
that s/he understands what is involved in the study and freely agrees to participate. 
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021


Project Title: Pilot Study of an Opioid-Receptor Antagonist and Gabapentin to Reduce Pain and Inflammation 
among HIV-Infected persons with Alcohol Problems 
Principle Investigator: Jeffrey Samet, MD, MA, MPH
                                                Version 1(d)                                                                                         Page 10 of 10
_____________________________________________
___________
Signature of person conducting consent discussion
      Date
To be completed by witness if researcher reads this form to the subject
This consent form was read to and apparently understood by the subject in my presence. 
_____________________________________________
Printed name of witness (a person not otherwise associated with the study)
_____________________________________________
___________
Signature of witness
      Date
BMC and BU Medical Campus IRB
IRB NUMBER: H-39162
IRB APPROVAL DATE: 03/11/2021