Conditions: Substance-Related Disorders
Keywords: Palonosetron Hydroxyzine Acute opioid withdrawal
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 10
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
Opioid medications are commonly used for pain relief. When given over time, physical dependence can occur. This results in unpleasant side effects--such as agitation and nausea--if opioid medications are suddenly stopped. We are interested in knowing if a medication named Ondansetron can help ease or prevent symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal. We are also interested in knowing if a similar (but more potent FDA-approved drug, palonosetron) can more effectively treat withdrawal symptoms with or without combination with an antihistamine called hydroxyzine (vistaril).

Detailed description:
We hope to learn if Palonosetron and/or combination with hydroxyzine can be used to prevent or attenuate the signs and symptoms of opioid withdrawal. If we find that it can help prevent these symptoms, it may become a new treatment that can aid patients suffering from these symptoms.

Arms:
arm 1: At T = 0 (minutes), healthy (non-opioid dependent, non-substance abuser) male volunteers (N=10) were pre-treated with either placebo (0.9% normal saline), palonosetron IV (0.75mg), or palonosetron IV (0.75mg) and hydroxyzine per os (PO) (100mg) in a crossover study design. This was followed at T = 30 by intravenous morphine (10mg/70kg). At T = 165, 10mg/70kg naloxone IV was given to precipitate opioid withdrawal. The objective opioid withdrawal score (OOWS) and subjective opioid withdrawal score (SOWS) were determined 5 and 15 minutes after naloxone administration (T = 170, 180, respectively). Baseline measurements were recorded at T = -30 and T = -15.

Week 1: Placebo

Week 2: Palonosetron + Hydroxyzine Combo

Week 3: Palonosetron arm 2: At T = 0 (minutes), healthy (non-opioid dependent, non-substance abuser) male volunteers (N=10) were pre-treated with either placebo (0.9% normal saline), palonosetron IV (0.75mg), or palonosetron IV (0.75mg) and hydroxyzine per os (PO) (100mg) in a crossover study design. This was followed at T = 30 by intravenous morphine (10mg/70kg). At T = 165, 10mg/70kg naloxone IV was given to precipitate opioid withdrawal. The objective opioid withdrawal score (OOWS) and subjective opioid withdrawal score (SOWS) were determined 5 and 15 minutes after naloxone administration (T = 170, 180, respectively). Baseline measurements were recorded at T = -30 and T = -15.

Week 1: Palonosetron

Week 2: Palonosetron + Hydroxyzine Combo

Week 3: Placebo arm 3: At T = 0 (minutes), healthy (non-opioid dependent, non-substance abuser) male volunteers (N=10) were pre-treated with either placebo (0.9% normal saline), palonosetron IV (0.75mg), or palonosetron IV (0.75mg) and hydroxyzine per os (PO) (100mg) in a crossover study design. This was followed at T = 30 by intravenous morphine (10mg/70kg). At T = 165, 10mg/70kg naloxone IV was given to precipitate opioid withdrawal. The objective opioid withdrawal score (OOWS) and subjective opioid withdrawal score (SOWS) were determined 5 and 15 minutes after naloxone administration (T = 170, 180, respectively). Baseline measurements were recorded at T = -30 and T = -15.

Week 1: Palonosetron + Hydroxyzine Combo

Week 2: Placebo

Week 3: Palonosetron arm 4: At T = 0 (minutes), healthy (non-opioid dependent, non-substance abuser) male volunteers (N=10) were pre-treated with either placebo (0.9% normal saline), palonosetron IV (0.75mg), or palonosetron IV (0.75mg) and hydroxyzine per os (PO) (100mg) in a crossover study design. This was followed at T = 30 by intravenous morphine (10mg/70kg). At T = 165, 10mg/70kg naloxone IV was given to precipitate opioid withdrawal. The objective opioid withdrawal score (OOWS) and subjective opioid withdrawal score (SOWS) were determined 5 and 15 minutes after naloxone administration (T = 170, 180, respectively). Baseline measurements were recorded at T = -30 and T = -15.

Week 1: Placebo

Week 2: Palonosetron only

Week 3: Palonosetron + Hydroxyzine Combo arm 5: At T = 0 (minutes), healthy (non-opioid dependent, non-substance abuser) male volunteers (N=10) were pre-treated with either placebo (0.9% normal saline), palonosetron IV (0.75mg), or palonosetron IV (0.75mg) and hydroxyzine per os (PO) (100mg) in a crossover study design. This was followed at T = 30 by intravenous morphine (10mg/70kg). At T = 165, 10mg/70kg naloxone IV was given to precipitate opioid withdrawal. The objective opioid withdrawal score (OOWS) and subjective opioid withdrawal score (SOWS) were determined 5 and 15 minutes after naloxone administration (T = 170, 180, respectively). Baseline measurements were recorded at T = -30 and T = -15.

Week 1: Palonosetron + Hydroxyzine Combo

Week 2: Palonosetron only

Week 3: Placebo arm 6: At T = 0 (minutes), healthy (non-opioid dependent, non-substance abuser) male volunteers (N=10) were pre-treated with either placebo (0.9% normal saline), palonosetron IV (0.75mg), or palonosetron IV (0.75mg) and hydroxyzine per os (PO) (100mg) in a crossover study design. This was followed at T = 30 by intravenous morphine (10mg/70kg). At T = 165, 10mg/70kg naloxone IV was given to precipitate opioid withdrawal. The objective opioid withdrawal score (OOWS) and subjective opioid withdrawal score (SOWS) were determined 5 and 15 minutes after naloxone administration (T = 170, 180, respectively). Baseline measurements were recorded at T = -30 and T = -15.

Week 1: Palonosetron only

Week 2: Placebo

Week 3:Palonosetron + Hydroxyzine Combo

Interventions: intervention 1: Palonosetron intervention 2: Hydroxyzine intervention 3: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Over 3 study visits, patients will receive one of the following treatment regimens:

* Placebo saline IV and sugar pill
* 0.75 mg Palonosetron IV and sugar pill
* 0.75 mg Palonosetron IV and 100 mg hydroxyzine PO intervention 2: Over 3 study visits, patients will receive one of the following treatment regimens:

* Placebo saline IV and sugar pill
* 0.75 mg Palonosetron IV and sugar pill
* 0.75 mg Palonosetron IV and 100 mg hydroxyzine PO intervention 3: Over 3 study visits, patients will receive one of the following treatment regimens:

* Placebo saline IV and sugar pill
* 0.75 mg Palonosetron IV and sugar pill
* 0.75 mg Palonosetron IV and 100 mg hydroxyzine PO

Protocol document: