Clinical trial NCT02322047: Prazosin and Naltrexone (PaN) Study for Veterans With Alcohol Use Disorders
Official title: Effect of Prazosin and Naltrexone on Personalized Script-Induced Alcohol Craving in Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorders With and Without Comorbid PTSD
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Keywords: Alcohol Drinking
Craving
Drinking Behavior
Prazosin
Naltrexone
Adrenergic Alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
Adrenergic Antagonists
Adrenergic Alpha-Antagonists
mu-Opioid Receptor Antagonist
Opioid Antagonist
Alcohol Use Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD
Alcohol Treatment
Alcohol Dependence
Pharmacology Treatment
AUD
Alcohol Abuse
Substance Use Disorder
SUD
Substance Abuse
Addiction
Alcohol Addiction
Substance Addiction
Substance Dependence
Lead sponsor: Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: United States Department of Defense
name: VA Puget Sound Health Care System
First posted: 2014-12-22
Enrollment: 31
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 80
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Eligible participants will be randomized into one of four study conditions: Naltrexone/Prazosin (Nal/Praz), Naltrexone/Placebo (Nal/Pl), Prazosin/Placebo (Praz/Pl), and Placebo/Placebo (Pl/Pl). Randomization will be blocked by gender, PTSD status, and alcohol consumption goal (abstention vs. reduction) and will be conducted by a VA Puget Sound Research Pharmacist using randomization tables supplied by the study Principal Investigator (PI). The Research Pharmacist will have no additional contacts with the participants.
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the combination of prazosin and naltrexone will decrease alcohol cravings and drinking in individuals who have problems with alcohol and have used alcohol at risky levels compare to naltrexone and placebo (Nal/Pl), prazosin and placebo (Praz/Pl), and double-placebo (Pl/Pl). We hypothesize that those assigned to both prazosin and naltrexone would report significantly greater decreases in percent drinking days and heavy drinking days as well as significantly greater reduction in craving from pre to post-treatment than those assigned to either single medication or double-placebo.

Prazosin is a medication that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat people with high blood pressure. Some studies have shown that prazosin may also decrease nightmares and improve sleep in Veterans suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Animal studies have consistently found that prazosin is associated with decreased alcohol consumption and that the combination of prazosin and naltrexone outperforms either medication alone. The current study is evaluating an "off-label" use of prazosin to determine whether it is helpful in decreasing alcohol cravings and consumption among people with alcohol problems. "Off-label" means that the FDA has not approved the use of prazosin for alcohol problems.

Naltrexone is a medication that is FDA approved for treating alcohol problems.

This study is sponsored by the Department of Defense and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (DoD/CDMRP). We expect approximately 120 participants in this study, which will run over approximately 4 years. Study participants will be involved in the study for 7 weeks, or until they complete the Final Assessment.

Detailed description: In this double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled study of prazosin and naltrexone, we will evaluate the combination of naltrexone and the noradrenergic medication prazosin (Nal/Praz) relative to naltrexone and placebo (Nal/Pl), prazosin and placebo (Praz/Pl), and double-placebo (Pl/Pl). Participants will undergo two craving inductions, one oriented towards relief craving and the other towards reward craving. Daily IVR (Interactive Voice Recording System) data on craving and consumption and PTSD symptomatology will be collected during the 7 days immediately following the initial assessment visit to establish a pre-medication baseline. One hundred twenty individuals with adequate IVR compliance and whose screening lab tests indicate it is safe for them to take the study medications will enter the medication phase of the study within 14 days of the initial assessment initiating prazosin/placebo as well as 50mg naltrexone/placebo treatment. Randomization will be blocked by gender, PTSD status, and desire to abstain vs. desire to cut down. Prazosin will be titrated to three times daily dosing (9 am: 4mg; 3pm: 4 mg; 9pm: 8mg) at the end of two weeks. Naltrexone will be taken once daily 50 mg/day with no titration schedule. The stable dose of both medications will continue for four more weeks and medication compliance will be evaluated through pill counts, the IVR daily monitoring, and riboflavin trace in urine analysis. On approximately day 42 participants will come into the lab for the craving inductions (there will be a two week window after day 42 in which participants may still be seen if scheduling issues arise). The order of the craving inductions will be counterbalanced, and their administration will be separated in time by 30 minutes to minimize carry over between them. Subjective responses to the craving inductions will be obtained via relief oriented craving items and reward oriented craving items from the Desire for Alcohol Questionnaire. Participants will then be assisted in returning their craving levels to baseline prior to debriefing. They will all be offered treatment referrals within the Veterans Affairs (VA) or in the community. Both prazosin and naltrexone can be safely discontinued without tapering.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Veteran of the U.S. military or National Guard Reserve.
2. Current AUD by DSM-5 criteria.
3. Heavy drinking (\>14 drinks per week for females; \> 21 drinks per week for males) for at least 2 weeks in the last 3 months and some drinking during the past two weeks OR binge drinking for at least 3 days in the last month (4+ drinks for females; 5+ drinks for males).
4. At least mild alcohol craving as assessed by the Pennsylvania Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS; score \> 10) at baseline.
5. Age 18-80.
6. English fluency and literacy.
7. Trying or planning to try to cut down on or abstain from alcohol.
8. Good general medical health.
9. Capable of giving informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Uncontrolled psychiatric disorder with psychotic symptoms or cognitive impairment.
2. If taking psychiatric medication, NOT on a stable dose for at least 30 days prior to randomization.
3. Any suicidal ideation in the past 7 days, plan or intent past 6 months, or any suicide attempt past year.
4. Homicidal ideation with plan and intent in the past 30 days.
5. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) endorsement of hopelessness or self-harm/SI and/or sum scale score ≥ 19.
6. Any use of prazosin or naltrexone past 30 days.
7. Currently taking disulfiram or acamprosate OR planning to take any of these medications (including prazosin or naltrexone) during the study.
8. Current moderate or severe substance use disorder (past 30 days) on any psychoactive substance other than alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis, OR use of any amphetamine or opioid-containing medications during the previous 30 days.
9. Significant acute or chronic medical illness
10. Preexisting hypotension (sys \<100) or orthostatic hypotension (systolic drop of \> 20 mmHg; after two minutes of standing, or any drop with dizziness).
11. Allergy or previous adverse reaction to naltrexone, prazosin, quinazolines, or other α-1 adrenergic blockers or use of other α -1 adrenergic blocker.
12. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or of childbearing potential and not using a contraceptive method judged by the investigator to be effective.
13. Legal involvement that could interfere with study participation, including being court ordered for treatment.
14. Signs or symptoms of withdrawal at time of initial consent.
15. Any participation in an experimental drug study or any addiction study past 30 days.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Percent Drinking Days (PDD) (Visit 8 PDD - Visit 2 PDD)
timeFrame: Visit 2 (baseline) and visit 8 (last visit). Per the protocol, visit 8 is scheduled to occur 42 days (± 7days) after visit 2. In reality, visit 8 occurred 35 to 76 days after visit 2 with the average of 45 days due to scheduling difficulties.
measure: Change in Percent Heavy Drinking Days (PHDD) (Visit 8 PHDD - Visit 2 PHDD)
timeFrame: Visit 2 (baseline) and Visit 8 (last visit). Per the protocol, visit 8 is scheduled to occur 42 days (± 7days) after visit 2. In reality, visit 8 occurred 35 to 76 days after visit 2 with the average of 45 days due to scheduling difficulties.
measure: Change in Alcohol Craving (Visit 8 PACS - Visit 2 PACS)
timeFrame: Visit 2 (baseline) and visit 8 (last visit). Per the protocol, visit 8 is scheduled to occur 42 days (± 7days) after visit 2. In reality, visit 8 occurred 35 to 76 days after visit 2 with the average of 45 days due to scheduling difficulties.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Mean Drinks Per Day of Drinking (Visit 8 - Visit 2)
timeFrame: Visit 2 (baseline) and visit 8 (last visit). Per the protocol, visit 8 is scheduled to occur 42 days (± 7days) after visit 2. In reality, visit 8 occurred 35 to 76 days after visit 2 with the average of 45 days due to scheduling difficulties.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Seattle
country: United States
facility: VA Puget Sound Healthcare System
state: Washington
Study officials:
affiliation: VA Puget Sound Health Care System
name: Tracy Simpson, Ph.D.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Berk E, Black J, Locastro J, Wickis J, Simpson T, Penk W. Traumatogenicity: effects of self-reported noncombat trauma on MMPIs of male Vietnam combat and noncombat veterans treated for substance abuse. J Clin Psychol. 1989 Sep;45(5):704-8. doi: 10.1002/1097-4679(198909)45:53.0.co;2-6.
citation: Simpson TL, Westerberg VS, Little LM, Trujillo M. Screening for childhood physical and sexual abuse among outpatient substance abusers. J Subst Abuse Treat. 1994 Jul-Aug;11(4):347-58. doi: 10.1016/0740-5472(94)90045-0.
citation: McCann BS, Simpson TL, Ries R, Roy-Byrne P. Reliability and validity of screening instruments for drug and alcohol abuse in adults seeking evaluation for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Am J Addict. 2000 Winter;9(1):1-9. doi: 10.1080/10550490050172173.
citation: Simpson TL. Women's treatment utilization and its relationship to childhood sexual abuse history and lifetime PTSD. Subst Abus. 2002 Mar;23(1):17-30. doi: 10.1080/08897070209511472.
citation: Simpson TL, Miller WR. Concomitance between childhood sexual and physical abuse and substance use problems. A review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2002 Feb;22(1):27-77. doi: 10.1016/s0272-7358(00)00088-x.
citation: Simpson TL. Childhood sexual abuse, PTSD, and the functional roles of alcohol use among women drinkers. Subst Use Misuse. 2003 Jan;38(2):249-70. doi: 10.1081/ja-120017248.
citation: Comtois KA, Tisdall WA, Holdcraft LC, Simpson T. Dual diagnosis: impact of family history. Am J Addict. 2005 May-Jun;14(3):291-9. doi: 10.1080/10550490590949479.
citation: Simpson TL, Kivlahan DR, Bush KR, McFall ME. Telephone self-monitoring among alcohol use disorder patients in early recovery: a randomized study of feasibility and measurement reactivity. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2005 Aug 1;79(2):241-50. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2005.02.001. Epub 2005 Feb 25.
citation: Dobie DJ, Maynard C, Kivlahan DR, Johnson KM, Simpson T, David AC, Bradley K. Posttraumatic stress disorder screening status is associated with increased VA medical and surgical utilization in women. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Mar;21 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S58-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00376.x.
citation: Bowen S, Witkiewitz K, Dillworth TM, Chawla N, Simpson TL, Ostafin BD, Larimer ME, Blume AW, Parks GA, Marlatt GA. Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Psychol Addict Behav. 2006 Sep;20(3):343-7. doi: 10.1037/0893-164X.20.3.343.
citation: Kaysen D, Simpson T, Dillworth T, Larimer ME, Gutner C, Resick PA. Alcohol problems and posttraumatic stress disorder in female crime victims. J Trauma Stress. 2006 Jun;19(3):399-403. doi: 10.1002/jts.20122.
citation: Simpson T, Jakupcak M, Luterek JA. Fear and avoidance of internal experiences among patients with substance use disorders and PTSD: the centrality of anxiety sensitivity. J Trauma Stress. 2006 Aug;19(4):481-91. doi: 10.1002/jts.20128.
citation: Simpson TL, Kaysen D, Bowen S, MacPherson LM, Chawla N, Blume A, Marlatt GA, Larimer M. PTSD symptoms, substance use, and vipassana meditation among incarcerated individuals. J Trauma Stress. 2007 Jun;20(3):239-49. doi: 10.1002/jts.20209.
citation: Kaysen D, Dillworth TM, Simpson T, Waldrop A, Larimer ME, Resick PA. Domestic violence and alcohol use: trauma-related symptoms and motives for drinking. Addict Behav. 2007 Jun;32(6):1272-83. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.09.007. Epub 2006 Nov 13.