Conditions: Opioid-use Disorder
Keywords: Outpatient detoxification Opioid dependence Naltrexone Vivitrol Buprenorphine
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 10
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
The study will enroll 30 opioid-dependent participants into an open-label pilot outpatient study of methods to facilitate induction and stabilization onto XR-NTX. There will be three different methods of XR-NTX induction using increasing doses of oral naltrexone and buprenophine.

Detailed description:
Procedure 1: 5-day induction with increasing doses of oral naltrexone. Participants will receive XR-NTX on day five together with buprenorphine, and will continue receiving buprenorphine for 4 weeks until they receive 2nd XR-NTX dose.

Procedure 2: 10-day induction with buprenorphine administered daily and increasing daily doses of oral naltrexone beginning on day 2 . On day 10 participants will receive XR-NTX dose, and another one 4 weeks later. No buprenorphine will be given beyond day 10.

Procedure 3: 10-day induction with buprenorphine administered daily and increasing daily doses of oral naltrexone beginning on day 2 . On day 10 participants will receive XR-NTX dose, and another one 4 weeks later. Buprenorphine will continue for 4 weeks until the 2nd XR-NTX dose.

All participants will receive weekly therapy with a study psychiatrist. All participants will receive open-label medication.

Arms:
arm 1: Procedure 1: 5-day induction with increasing doses of oral naltrexone. Participants will receive XR-NTX on day five together with buprenorphine, and will continue receiving buprenorphine for 4 weeks until they receive 2nd XR-NTX dose. arm 2: Procedure 2: 10-day induction with buprenorphine administered daily and increasing daily doses of oral naltrexone beginning on day 2 . On day 10 participants will receive XR-NTX dose, and another one 4 weeks later. No buprenorphine will be given beyond day 10. arm 3: Procedure 3: 10-day induction with buprenorphine administered daily and increasing daily doses of oral naltrexone beginning on day 2 . On day 10 participants will receive XR-NTX dose, and another one 4 weeks later. Buprenorphine will continue for 4 weeks until the 2nd XR-NTX dose.

Interventions: intervention 1: Buprenorphine intervention 2: Naltrexone intervention 3: Vivitrol
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Buprenorphine will be administered daily intervention 2: On study day 2, participants will receive increasing doses of oral naltrexone prior to administration of XR-NTX intervention 3: Participants will receive one 380 i.m. injection on Study day 5 or 10, and another injection 4 weeks later.

Protocol document:
Prot_000.pdf: 
 
 
DOCUMENT COVER PAGE 
 
 
Buprenorphine as Adjunct to Outpatient Induction onto XR-naltrexone (Vivitrol)  
Study Protocol 
 
 
 
NYS PI IRB #7456 
 
NCT03113409 
 
June 25, 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Protocol Title:
Buprenorphine as Adjunct to Outpatient 
Induction onto Vivitrol
Protocol Number:
7456
First Approval:
02/21/2017
Expiration Date:
02/05/2019
Version Date:
06/25/2018
Clinic:
Substance Treatment And Research 
Services (STARS)
Contact Principal Investigator:
Adam Bisaga, MD
Email: amb107@columbia.edu
Telephone: 646-774-6155
Research Chief:
Frances Levin, MD
Cover Sheet
Choose ONE option from the following that is applicable to your study
If you are creating a new protocol, select "I am submitting a new protocol." As 5 Year Renewals are no 
longer required, this option remains for historical purposes.
I am proposing an amendment only to an existing protocol
Division & Personnel
Division
What Division/Department does the PI belong to?
Substance Abuse
Within the division/department, what Center or group are you affiliated with, if any? 
Substance Abuse
Unaffiliated Personnel
List investigators, if any, who will be participating in this protocol but are not affiliated with New York 
State Psychiatric Institute or Columbia University. Provide: Full Name, Degrees and Affiliation.
None


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Amendment
Describe the change(s) being made 
1. Add the Risk Assessment Battery (RAB) to the list of self-reports that participants will complete. 
2. Add a optional short, semi-structured interview at the end of treatment exploring the risk factors 
described by the RAB with a greater emphasis on the motivation behind risky behaviors—and lack of 
motivation behind others—especially in relation to naltrexone treatment. This interview will be audio 
recorded with the participant's written consent. Participants who choose to participate in the interview will 
receive $40 compensation.
 
3. A consent for audio recording has been added to the Consent form.
 
4. The compensation for the optional interview has been added to the consent form and the compensation 
section of the PSF.
Provide the rationale for the change(s) 
Additional assessments.
Comment on the extent to which the proposed change(s) alter or affect risks/benefits to subjects 
None
Comment on if the proposed change(s) require a modification to the Consent Form (CF)
1. A consent for audio recording has been added to the Consent form.
2. The compensation for the optional interview has been added to the consent form
Procedures
To create the protocol summary form, first indicate if this research will include any of the following 
procedures
   Psychiatric Assessment
   Collection of Biological Specimens
   Medication Trial
Population
Indicate which of the following populations will be included in this research
   Medically and Psychiatrically Healthy Subjects
   Adults
   Adults over 50
   Individuals with HIV/AIDS


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Research Support/Funding
Will an existing internal account be used to support the project?
Yes
Describe internal account
Gift account at RFMH
Is the project externally funded or is external funding planned?
No
Study Location
Indicate if the research is/will be conducted at any of the following
   NYSPI
This protocol describes research conducted by the PI at other facilities/locations
No
Lay Summary of Proposed Research 
Lay Summary of Proposed Research
We will enroll 30 opioid-dependent participants into an open-label pilot outpatient study of methods to 
facilitate induction and stabilization onto XR-NTX. There will be three different methods of XR-NTX 
induction. 
 
Procedure 1: 5-day induction with 1 day of BUP (8 mg) followed by washout day and 3 days of oral NTX 
titration. Participants will receive XR-NTX on day five together with BUP 4 mg, and will continue 
receiving BUP for 4 weeks until they receive 2nd XR-NTX dose.
 
Procedure 2: 10-day induction with BUP 8 mg administered on Day 1 and 4 mg administered starting day 2 
 and increasing daily doses of NTX beginning on day 2 (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 25). On day 10 participants 
will receive XR-NTX dose, and another one 4 weeks later. No BUP will be given beyond day 10.
 
 Procedure 3: 10-day induction with BUP 8 mg administered on day 1 and 4 mg administered starting day 2 
 and increasing doses of NTX beginning on day 2 (0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 25). On day 10 participants will 
receive XR-NTX dose, and another one 4 weeks later. BUP  4 mg/d will continue for 4 weeks until the 2nd 
XR-NTX dose. 
 
All participants will receive weekly therapy with a study psychiatrist. All participants will receive open-
label medication. 
 
We will first enroll all participants into Procedure1 followed by Procedure 2 and Procedure 3.
 


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The primary outcome of this study will be percentage of patients who receive the second injection of XR-
NTX, Secondary outcomes will include measure of opioid withdrawal and illicit opioid use.
Background, Significance and Rationale
Background, Significance and Rationale
Agonist-based strategies (methadone and buprenorphine) have dominated the treatment of opioid 
dependence in the US for the last 40 years. However, agonists are not effective for all patients, as many 
individuals continue abusing opioids or other drugs during agonist maintenance and drop out of treatment 
(Reece, 2009). As compared to methadone, treatment using buprenorphine is safer and more feasible, 
although effectiveness and limitations of both medications are generally comparable with treatment 
retention rates of 35-40% at 6 months (Hser et al., 2015).
The main alternative to agonist-based approach is treatment with the opioid antagonist naltrexone, which 
has been used in its oral form for the treatment of opioid dependence since 1984. The approval of long-
acting (XR) injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX) in 2010 represents a substantial advance, circumventing the 
need for daily medication adherence, a major challenge with oral preparations. Naltrexone blocks the effects 
of opioids, while producing no agonist effects itself. Since naltrexone acts by a different mechanism it may 
be helpful to patients who are not suitable or interested in agonist maintenance, or have failed prior trials of 
agonist due to side effects or continuing use. However widespread implementation of naltrexone treatment 
has been limited by: 1) difficulties transitioning patients at the outset of treatment from opioid use onto 
naltrexone, and 2) persisting withdrawal-like symptoms that some patients experience which may contribute 
to the dropout prior to the second monthly injection. 
Naltrexone can only be started after the completion of opioid withdrawal, which itself is uncomfortable and 
many patients relapse before achieving long-enough abstinence. Procedures for rapid transition to 
naltrexone by combining detoxification with oral naltrexone induction may decrease the wait time before 
the first injection but are labor intensive because of the need to frequently adjust adjunctive medications in 
response to precipitated withdrawal. As a result, the dropout rate in the first few days is high, and burden on 
staff is substantial, both factors limiting the clinical feasibility of this approach (Gowing et al., 2009). 
Decreasing the severity of withdrawal patients experience during the first days in treatment may allow more 
patients to receive the first injection. 
 
We propose to test a new method of transitioning patients from opioid agonist onto antagonist that may have 
higher tolerability. It involves maintaining patients on a dose of BUP that will block craving and withdrawal 
while gradually increasing dose of naltrexone until a final blocking dose is reached. Slow increase of 
naltrexone will likely minimize the severity of withdrawal. 
 
Some patients continue experiencing withdrawal-like symptoms during the first few weeks after receiving 
XR-NTX. The common strategy to manage them involves administering adjunctive medications such as 
clonazepam, clonidine, zolpidem trazodone etc. It has been observed that adding buprenorphine after the 
patient received a full blocking dose of naltrexone will not produce mu opioid agonist effect (as it is blocked 


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by naltrexone) but kappa antagonist effects of buprenorphine will remain which may decrease craving and 
residual withdrawal symptoms and therefore will help patients to stabilize on XR-NTX.   
Improved strategies of naltrexone induction and stabilization will permit expansion of its use to populations 
that currently opt for psychosocial-only approaches or those who chose to terminate treatment with agonists.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Specific Aims and Hypotheses
Specific Aims and Hypotheses
The goal of this pilot study is to test three new outpatient procedures to facilitate transition onto a long-
acting, injectable form of naltrexone 380 mg (XR-NTX)  in opioid-dependent individuals who are actively 
using opioids and are seking treatment with naltrexone.
 
We are proposing to enroll 30 opioid-dependence participants, 10 into each of three procedures, for an open-
label study of relapse prevention.  We will enroll the first 10 participants in Procedure 1, the next 10 in 
Procedure 2, and the last 10 in Procedure 3. Treatment will be delivered in an outpatient setting including a 
phase of outpatient opioid withdrawal, followed by  XR-NTX injection and another XR-NTX injection 4 
weeks later. In addition, patients will receive a psychosocial intervention that will include elements of 
motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention therapy. 
 
The primary aim is to test the the feasibility, safety and efficacy of the new methods to improve tolerability 
of naltrexone induction and reducing attrition during detoxification and the first month of naltrexone 
treatment.
 


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Primary Hypothesis 1: Adjunctive treatment with buprenorphine 4 mg during the first 5 weeks of naltrexone 
maintenance will improve opioid abstinence and treatment retention, defined as receiving the second XR-
NTX injection. 
 
Primary Hypothesis 2: Providing buprenorphine 4 mg daily during gradual 9-day titration of oral naltrexone 
will improve tolarability and success of XR-NTX induction, defined as receiving the first XR-NTX 
injection. 
  
Primary Hypothesis 3: Providing buprenorphine 4 mg daily during gradual 9-day titration of oral naltrexone 
and adjunctive treatment with buprenorphine 4 mg during the first 5 weeks of naltrexone maintenance will 
significantly improve opioid abstinence and treatment retention, defined as receiving the second XR-NTX 
injection. 
 
Primary Aim 4: To examine in biofluid-derived extracellular vesicle content for the existence of biomarkers 
related to naltrexone treatment. 
 
Description of Subject Population
Sample #1
Specify subject population
Adults with current Opioid Use Disorder
Number of completers required to accomplish study aims
15
Projected number of subjects who will be enrolled to obtain required number of completers
30
Age range of subject population
18-60
Gender, Racial and Ethnic Breakdown
Both genders and all ethnic groups are eligible. It is estimated that the sample will be 60% male, 40% 
female, 50% Caucasian, 30% Hispanic-American,15% African-American, and 5% other minorities based on 
data from previous trials.
Description of subject population
Prospective participants must be adult (18 to 60 years of age) and meet criteria for current opioid use 
disorder by history and urine toxicology. Other substance use diagnoses are not exclusionary since multiple 
substance abuse is common in this population, and such an exclusion would rule out a large proportion of 
the population and limit the generalizability of the study. However, physiological dependence on alcohol or 
sedative-hypnotics with impending withdrawal is exclusionary. Maintenance on methadone or other long-
acting agonist (e.g. buprenorphine) or regular use of illicit methadone (> 30 mg per week) is exclusionary. 
Prospective participants cannot have concurrent psychiatric or medical conditions that would interfere with 


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participation (e.g. mania, psychosis, suicidality, pregnancy or failure to use adequate contraception).
Recruitment Procedures
Describe settings where recruitment will occur
All potential participants will be evaluated at the BSU clinic at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.
How and by whom will subjects be approached and/or recruited? 
All patients will be seen by one of our psychiatrists or Master's level therapist for a screening 
evaluation and mental status examination as part of routine admission procedures or BSU clinic . 
Patients who appear to meet criteria are told about the study and offered further evaluation. Final 
informed consent for the study will be obtained after full psychiatric and medical workup is complete. 
The physicians listed above work regular weekly shifts, know the protocol well, and are able to 
explain study consent to the participant. Procedures for training staff physicians in each protocol and 
consent form include initial presentations by the Principal Investigator at weekly staff meetings, and 
weekly discussion of inclusion/exclusion criteria and study eligibility for each screening participant.
How will the study be advertised/publicized? 
Once approved by the IRB, advertisements for study will be placed in local newspapers and radio
stations. Additionally, prospective participants are recruited by word of mouth and through liaison
to other local clinical services.
Do you have ads/recruitment material requiring review at this time? 
No
Does this study involve a clinical trial?
Yes
Please provide the NCT Registration Number
NCT03113409
Concurrent Research Studies
Will subjects in this study participate in or be recruited from other studies? 
No
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
Name the subject group/sub sample
Adults with current Opioid Use Disorder ages 18-60
Create or insert table to describe the inclusion criteria and methods to ascertain them
1) Age 18-60. (Clinical interview )
 


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2) Meets DSM-5 criteria for current opioid use disorder (moderate-severe) of at least six months duration, 
supported by urine toxicology OR COWS score > or =6 OR Naloxone Challenge . (Clinical & MINI 
Interview; urine toxicology or COWS score > or = 6 OR Naloxone Challenge (see Procedures) )
 
3) Voluntarily seeking treatment for opioid dependence. (Clinical interview )
 
4) In otherwise good health based on complete medical history and physical examination (Clinical interview 
and physical examination; vital signs, ECG, laboratory tests (hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis) 
within normal ranges (AST or ALT < 3 times normal). )
 
5) Able to give written informed consent. (Clinical interview and mental status exam)
Create or insert table to describe the exclusion criteria and methods to ascertain them
1) Methadone maintenance treatment or regular use of illicit methadone (> 30 mg per week). (Clinical 
interview; urine toxicology)
 
2) Maintenance on, or regular use of buprenorphine or other long-acting narcotic agonists. ( Clinical 
interview; urine toxicology)
 
3) Pregnancy, lactation, or failure in a sexually active woman to use adequate contraceptive methods. 
(Clinical Interview, physical examination, urine pregnancy test during screening, serum pregnancy test at 
screening, and urine test on day of administration of XR-NTX)
 
4) Active medical illness which might make participation hazardous, such as untreated hypertension, acute 
hepatitis with AST or ALT > 3 times normal, AIDS (CD4 count under 200 currently or medically ill with an 
opportunistic infection), unstable diabetes.  (Clinical interview, physical examination, laboratory ( Chem-20, 
CBC, urinalysis), ECG )
 
5) Active psychiatric disorder which might interfere with participation or make participation hazardous, 
including DSM-5 Schizophrenia or any psychotic disorder, severe Major Depressive Disorder, or suicide 
risk or 1 or more suicide attempts within the past year. (Clinical and MINI interview, clinical mental status 
examination, discussions with previous psychiatrist or treatment provider if formerly in treatment.)
 
6) Physiologically dependent on alcohol or sedative- hypnotics with impending withdrawal. Other substance 
use diagnoses are not exclusionary.  (Clinical & MINI interview; urine toxicology)
 
7) History of allergic or adverse reaction to buprenorphine, naltrexone, naloxone, clonidine, or clonazepam. 
( Clinical interview)
 
8) Chronic organic mental disorder (e.g. AIDS (CD4 count under 200 currently or medically ill with an 
opportunistic infection) dementia). (Clinical interview, mental status, physical and laboratory examination)
 
9) History of accidental drug overdose in the last 3 years as defined as an episode of opioid-induced 
unconsciousness or incapacitation, whether or not medical treatment was sought or received. (Clinical 
interview)


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10) Painful medical condition that requires ongoing opioid analgesia or anticipated surgery necessitating 
opioid medications. ( Clinical interview, physical examination)
Waiver of Consent/Authorization
Indicate if you are requesting any of the following consent waivers
Waiver of consent for use of records that include protected health information (a HIPAA waiver of 
Authorization) 
No
Waiver or alteration of consent
No
Waiver of documentation of consent 
No
Waiver of parental consent 
No
Consent Procedures
Is eligibility screening for this study conducted under a different IRB protocol?
No
Describe procedures used to obtain consent during the screening process 
Potential participants will sign a consent form prior to initiating the screening process. Following 
review of screening informed consent, an evaluation team consisting of a Masters- or Doctoral-level 
research psychologist and psychiatrist meets with potential participants. The baseline evaluation 
includes a full battery of self-report measures, a structured psychiatric evaluation (MINI interview), 
Hamilton depression scale, a physical examination, and laboratory assessments. Medical screening 
and laboratory work, include vital signs, a physical examination, ECG, serum chemistry, liver 
function tests, complete blood count, and urinalysis obtained by study personnel. Pregnancy tests will 
be conducted for women.
Describe Study Consent Procedures
After the screening evaluation, the study physician will review the study inclusion/exclusion criteria to 
determine if the participant is eligible for the study based on the screening materials. If the
participant is eligible for the study, they will be given the consent form to read, and review with the
consenting physician. The study consent will only be signed after all of the participant's questions are 
asked, and after all the risks and benefits are explained to and understood by the participant. Study 
related procedures will only be initiated after the consent form is signed by both the participant and 
consenting physician.
Indicate which of the following are employed as a part of screening or main study consent procedures
   Consent Form


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Persons designated to discuss and document consent
Select the names of persons designated to obtain consent/assent
Bisaga, Adam, MD
Brezing, Christina, MD
Evans, Elizabeth, MD
Kidd, Jeremy
Levin, Frances, MD
Luo, Sean, MD
Mariani, John, MD
Naqvi, Nasir, MD
Nunes, Edward, MD
Shulman, Matisyahu, MD
Vaezazizi, Leila
Williams, Arthur
Type in the name(s) not found in the above list
Derek Blevins, MD
Jonathan Wai, MD
Study Procedures
Describe the procedures required for this study
All three procedures will be conducted under similar conditions. During the first study visit (Day-1), study 
inclusion/exclusion criteria will be reviewed and participants will be consented into the study. Participants 
will be instructed to remain abstinent from opioids for at least 16 hours, until the next morning. Adjunctive 
medications (clonidine, clonazepam, trazodone/zolpidem) as well as behavioral strategies to minimize 
withdrawal symptoms during opiate deprivation will be offered.
During the 5-day induction (Procedure 1) or the 10-day induction (Procedures 2 and 3) participants will be 
assessed daily Monday to Friday for opioids and other substance use (urine toxicology and self-report), vital 
signs, opioid withdrawal symptoms, and opioid craving. Study medications (buprenorphine and naltrexone) 
as well as adjuvant medications to alleviate opioid withdrawal (clonidine, prochlorperazine, and 
clonazepam) will be administered on site during the weekdays and taken by the patient at home during 
weekend days. All medications will be administered in an open-label manner and dispensed to take home as 
needed on a daily basis during the detoxification week.
Patients will be required to visit the clinic daily and remain there for at least 1.5-2 hours to permit close 
monitoring, with an option to stay as long as necessary to achieve relief of symptoms and medical stability 
prior to being discharged home. During study visits, participants will be evaluated clinically by a research 
nurse and physician prior to dose administration and monitored on site for up to 8 hours. Transportation 
home will be provided by car service for patients experiencing drowsiness or medication side effects. 
During evenings and weekends, participants will have access to a 24-hour physician coverage service, 
staffed by research psychiatrists familiar with this protocol.


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Patients will have their vital signs checked at the beginning of the induction visit (prior to medication 
dosing) and again at the end of the visit. At the start of each visit and prior to administration of medication, 
a baseline COWS and SOWS assessment will be obtained. COWS and SOWS assessments will be repeated 
at approximately 30 minutes after administration of buprenorphine 4mg (prior to administration of 
naltrexone), and 60 minutes after administration of naltrexone.
 
Procedure 1:
 
Design
Patients will undergo an outpatient buprenorphine-clonidine-naltrexone procedure to initiate treatment with 
XR-naltrexone (XR-NTX) as developed at STARS (Sullivan et al., in print). At the end of the procedure, 
after the injection of XR-NTX participants will begin treatment with buprenorphine 4 mg/d for 4 weeks, 
after which they will receive another injection of XR-NTX and will continue with buprenorphine for 
additional 4 days up to the total of 5 weeks of buprenorphine. 
Rationale
Adding buprenorphine after the transition onto XR-naltrexone will not produce any significant opioid 
agonist effect (as it will be blocked by naltrexone) but will add an additional kappa antagonist effect which 
may help alleviate residual/protracted withdrawal symptoms. This is a replication study of the method 
previously published by Gerra et al. (2006) with oral naltrexone. 
Study Medications Dosing
On the morning of Day 1, participants will receive 2 mg of buprenorphine, to be followed by a second dose 
after 1-2 hours. Participants will receive a total of 8mg of buprenorphine on Day 1. One washout day 
follows which includes administration of adjuvant medications. On Day 3, after pre-treatment with 
prochlorperazine 10mg for nausea, the first dose of naltrexone 1 mg is given, followed by ascending doses 
titrated gradually, as tolerated, to 25 mg on Day 5. Adherence will be supported by observed ingestion of 
powdered doses of naltrexone as suspension in water. Participants will receive XR-NTX on Day 5 together 
with buprenorphine 4mg, and will continue to receive BUP 4 mg/d for 4 weeks until they receive the 2nd 
XR-NTX dose. Participants will receive the total of two doses of XR-NTX.
Participants will receive 8mg buprenorphine on Day 1 of the detoxification, and following administration of 
XR-NTX will receive 4mg buprenorphine daily for four weeks of outpatient treatment. All participants will 
be receiving a sublingual tablet once daily. Buprenorphine will be discontinued the day after the 2nd 
injection of XR-NTX. Buprenorphine will be given once daily, starting after administration of 25mg of 
naltrexone. The dose of 4 mg will be continued at the 4mg until administration of 2nd XR-NTX dose. 
Following the second XR-NTX injection buprenorphine dose will be decreased to 2 mg for 4 days after 
which it will be stopped.
 
Adjuvant medications for Procedure 1 include: Clonidine 0.1 mg QID (MDD=0.4 mg), clonazepam 0.5 mg 
QID (MDD=2.0 mg), prochlorperazine 10 mg QD, trazodone 100 mg HS, and zolpidem 10 mg HS. 
Clonidine will be held if blood pressure falls below 90/60 mm Hg at any visit's vitals check. Adjuvant 
medications will be offered for one week following administration of XR-NTX as needed for persistent 
withdrawal symptoms. 
If opioid use occurs in combination with missed doses of naltrexone, a naloxone challenge will be 
administered to confirm that the next dose of oral naltrexone will be tolerated; if necessary, an additional 
day of adjuvant medication only will be given. In patients at risk for greater withdrawal symptoms (e.g. 


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history of severe withdrawal, more severe dependence (> 6 bags per day), or a strong reaction to the first 
dose of naltrexone), the procedure may be slowed down by 1 or 2 days. Once a patient has tolerated a first 
daily dose of naltrexone 25 mg, he/she is eligible to receive XR-NTX 380 mg IM on Day 5.
 
Procedure 2:
 
Design
Patients will undergo a modified outpatient buprenorphine-clonidine-naltrexone procedure to initiate 
treatment with XR-naltrexone (XR-NTX). During a 10-day procedure, oral naltrexone will be very slowly 
titrated upwards to the full dose of oral naltrexone but buprenorphine will remain at the same dose of 4 mg a 
day starting on Day 2. At the end of the procedure, participants will receive the injection of XR-NTX, and 
the second XR-NTX injection will be administered 4 weeks later. No buprenorphine will be given beyond 
Day 10.
 
Rationale
We hypothesize that a gradual titration of naltrexone while maintaining stable does of buprenorphine will 
allow for a transition from an opioid agonist to an opioid antagonist state with minimal withdrawal severity. 
Based on our extensive experience administering low-doses of naltrexone we believe that repeated 
administration of very low-doses of naltrexone with 1-day dosing interval should not precipitate severe 
withdrawal. Because of the long-duration of receptor binding naltrexone will accumulate at the receptor and 
over time it will replace the buprenorphine at the receptor. 
This is a variation of the methods decribed by Resnick et al., (1977) and Hammig et al., (2016). Resnick 
gave increasing doses of naloxone over 1-2 days to participants who stopped methadone maintenance (and 
presumably still had methadone present in their brain when naloxone was given). The severity of 
precipitated withdrawal was decreasing with each subsequent naloxone dose and at the end of the procedure 
participants had negative naloxone challenge and received oral naltrexone 100 mg. This method was further 
elaborated by Charney et al., (1982) who administered increasing doses of naltrexone over 4-day period to 
participants who were maintained on methadone (20-30 mg/d ) prior to this procedure.
Hammig described a "Bernese Method" where small doses of buprenorphine are titrated upward while the 
subject continues taking full agonist (Hammig et al., 2016). While in the Bernese method, opioid agonist is 
stopped once the therapeutic dose of buprenorphine is reached we will continue administering 
buprenorphine even after the full blocking doses of naltrexone is reached as it is known that buprenorphine 
can be safely administered in combination with naltrexone in participants who were first treated with 
naltrexone.
We have experience (30 participants) administering buprenorphine 8 mg for 1 day followed by a day of 
washout and increasing doses of naltrexone for 2 days with a full blocking dose of naltrexone reached on 
day 3 
We hypothesize that with a very slow and gradual upwards titration of naltrexone while the participant 
receives overlapping buprenorphine we will avoid the precipitation of severe withdrawal and will be able to 
arrive at the blocking dose of naltrexone 25 mg/d followed by an injection of XR-naltrexone. 
Study Medications Dosing


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On the morning of Day 1, participants will receive 2 mg of buprenorphine, to be followed by a second dose 
after 1-2 hours. Participants will receive a total of 8mg of buprenorphine on Day 1. Patients will then 
receive 4mg of buprenorphine on Days 2-10. Beginning on Day 2 participants will receive increasing doses 
of naltrexone 30 minutes after the dose of buprenorphine 4 mg has been administered, starting with 0.25mg 
titrating up to 25mg on Day 10 (Day 2:0.25mg; Day 3: 0.5mg; Day 4: 1mg; Day 5: 2mg; Day 6: 3mg; Day 
7: 6mg; Day 8: 12mg; Day 9: 25mg; Day 10: 25mg. On Day 10 participants will receive a dose of XR-NTX, 
and a 2nd dose 4 weeks later. No buprenorphine will be given beyond Day 10.
 
Procedure 3:
 
Design
Procedure 3 is a combination of procedure 1 (BUP 4 mg/d given in combination with XR-NTX) and 
procedure 2 (slow titration of oral naltrexone while maintaining stable BUP dose).
 
Rationale 
This is a combination of Procedure 1 and 3 
Study Medications Dosing
On the morning of Day 1, participants will receive 2 mg of buprenorphine, to be followed by a second dose 
after 1-2 hours. Participants will receive a total of 8mg of buprenorphine on Day 1. Patients will then 
receive 4mg of buprenorphine on Days 2-10. Beginning on Day 2 participants will receive increasing doses 
of naltrexone 30 minutes after the dose of buprenorphine 4mg has been administered, starting with 0.25mg 
titrating up to 25mg on Day 10 (Day 2:0.25mg; Day 3: 0.5mg; Day 4: 1mg; Day 5: 2mg; Day 6: 3mg; Day 
7: 6mg; Day 8: 12mg; Day 9: 25mg; Day 10: 25mg. Participants will receive XR-NTX on Day 10 together 
with buprenorphine 4mg, and will continue to receive buprenorphine 4mg for 4 weeks until they receive the 
2nd XR-NTX dose. Following the second XR-NTX injection, the buprenorphine dose will be decreased in 
Study Week 5 to 2 mg for 4 days after which it will be stopped.
If a significant withdrawal symptoms emerge during the naltrexone titration, the next dose of naltrexone will 
be repeated (rather than doubled) and therefore the procedure may be slowed by 1-3 days. Once a patient 
has tolerated a first daily dose of naltrexone 25 mg, he/she is eligible to receive XR-NTX 380 mg IM. 
Adjuvant medications (Procedures 2 & 3)
We believe that there will be less withdrawal symptoms in participants receiving buprenorphine therefore 
we will us lower standing doses of medications with the option to administer additional doses as needed for 
breakthrough withdrawal. We will administer Clonidine 0.1 mg BID and clonazepam 0.5 mg BID daily. 
Additional doses of clonidine 0.1 mg (MDD=0.4 mg), clonazepam 0.5 mg (MDD=2.0 mg), 
prochlorperazine 10 mg QD, trazodone 100 mg HS, and zolpidem 10 mg HS will be administered as 
needed. Clonidine will be held if blood pressure falls below 90/60 mm Hg at any visit's vitals check. 
Adjuvant medications will be offered for one week following administration of XR-NTX as needed for 
persistent withdrawal symptoms. 
Treatment Period
Adherence to oral naltrexone
All doses of buprenorphine and oral naltrexone will be directly observed when possible. If a significant 
withdrawal symptoms emerge during the naltrexone titration, the next dose of naltrexone will be repeated 


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(rather than doubled) and therefore the procedure may be slowed by 1-3 days. 
XR-NTX Injections
XR-NTX will be administered on either Day 5 (Procedure 1), or Day 10 (Procedures 2 & 3), as an 
intramuscular injection (380 mg) in one buttock by one of the research psychiatrists or research nurses of 
the clinic, who are currently trained and administer XR-NTX in other protocols. All participants will be 
required to remain at the clinic for 1 hour of observation following the first injection, to monitor vital signs 
and to observe for any increased withdrawal symptoms or side effects. At the beginning of Week 4 (4 weeks 
post-XR-NTX injection) participants will receive a second injection of XR-NTX. 
Procedures for Missed Doses of XR-NTX
If the patient misses a scheduled second injection and takes an opioid during at least two of the seven days 
following the date of the scheduled injection, relapse will be suspected, and we will perform a naloxone 
challenge, if appropriate, using 0.8 mg naloxone, administered intramuscularly. The patient is followed 
clinically and withdrawal symptoms are assessed over the next hour. If the challenge is negative, the 
administration of XR-naltrexone will be resumed. If fully positive, the patient will have relapsed as XR-
naltrexone may precipitate significant withdrawal so it cannot be resumed. However, because there are 
blood levels and partial blockade beyond Week 5, vulnerability to relapse may be more gradual, and the 
instance of mild or equivocal reactions to naloxone challenge more common. In this instance, a second 
challenge within 72 hours, or escalating doses of oral naltrexone over 3 days will be attempted, and if 
tolerated, the next injections can be given. Patients who fail two consecutive naloxone challenges are 
considered to have relapsed and are referred for inpatient detoxification or agonist maintenance, as deemed 
clinically appropriate and in accordance with the patient’s wishes.
Missing a scheduled second XR-NTX injection is the most important threat to the success of XR-naltrexone 
maintenance. In the event of a patient missing a scheduled injection, the clinic staff will immediately 
attempt to contact the patient to re-establish commitment to the naltrexone treatment and reschedule the 
injection within a 24-48-hour period. If the patient cannot attend the treatment clinic within that two-day 
time-frame, or cannot be located, the treatment team will use previously obtained locator information in an 
effort to locate the patient through emergency contacts and get him/her in for a clinic visit. 
Use of opiates presents concerns in the management of patients receiving XR-naltrexone. Failure mode with 
XR-naltrexone is that a patient misses a scheduled injection, resumes heroin, and becomes re-dependent. 
However, because of the long duration of action of XR-NTX (full blockade lasts up to 5 weeks after the last 
injection) a grace period of at least 7 days can be expected during which the inection can be rescheduled 
without risk of relapse.
Study Visits 
Participants will be seen in the clinic daily on weekdays during the induction phase (Days -1- 10) and two 
times per week during weeks 1-8. Once XR-NTX has been administered, outpatient Week 1 will start. At 
each visit the patient will meet with the research assistant to complete research ratings. Research nurse 
collects safety measures, inquires about side effects, and obtains a urine sample under observation. Side 
effects of study medications are reviewed weekly during the visit with a research psychiatrist, or more 
frequently if clinically indicated, and study psychiatrist will adjust medication dose if necessary. At the 
completion of all activities for the visit, a $15 voucher is offered to the patient to reimburse the costs of 
transportation and the time taken to complete study-related assessments.


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At each visit to the clinic the patient meets with the research assistant to complete research ratings, 
including self-report of withdrawal, mood, and drug use. Blood samples are drawn according to the protocol 
for liver enzymes. The patient provides a urine sample under observation by a staff member at each visit. 
Our clinic is staffed by both male and female research assistants so that all urines can be appropriately 
monitored. The sample is tested immediately for opiates with the iScreen system (Instant Technologies, 
Inc.). Vital signs are also taken. All data are then brought to the therapist and therapy session is held. Liver 
function tests will be drawn before the second XR-NTX injection. 
Participants may come to the clinic to be seen as frequently as needed. In particular, any participant who is 
experiencing protracted opioid withdrawal will be offered clinical contact on a frequent, even daily, basis if 
needed. For clinical matters arising in the evenings or on weekends, participants will have access to the 24-
hour emergency telephone service, staffed by physicians familiar with this protocol who can address 
patients’ concerns.
We will collect 4ml of saliva, 50ml of urine, and 4, 6-7ml blood from subjects at baseline and at the end of 
study. From these we will isolate extracellular vesicle-containing pellets and evaluate their contents using 
advanced -OMICs analyses, in order to identify molecular signatures that differ across subjects before and 
after naltrexone treatment.
Behavioral Therapy
Participants will receive counseling focused on medication adherence, education about management of 
withdrawal symptoms, on correct medication usage and the importance of adherence to study procedures 
and abstinence from any substance use outside of the protocol. All participants will receive behavioral 
therapy daily (Mon-Fri) during the induction phase. Physician will meet with participants during each clinic 
visit during the induction process and weekly afterwards. In addition therapists will meet with individuals 
for 30 minutes at each weekly visit offering patients support and education about the recovery process. The 
goals of these counseling sessions are to: educate and support the patient as he or she stabilizes on XR-
NTX, provide a motivational platform to discuss pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies for the 
management of opioid withdrawal symptoms, provide education regarding any medication side effects, and 
increase patient’s motivation to adhere to the XR-naltrexone and to remain on it with the provider in the 
community after the completion of the study.
Transitioning to Follow-up care 
Once the participant has received the first injection of XR-NTX, therapists will begin discussing the 
participant's plans for treatment at the end of the study. If the participant plans to continue with XR-NTX, 
therapists will inquire about the participant's current insurance coverage, or help the participant apply for 
insurance if needed. At study end, participants who have successfully completed the trial and wish to 
continue injectable naltrexone maintenance will be offered second XR-NTX. If the patient has difficulty 
transitioning to an outside provider in time for the 3rd injection, it will be offered if samples have been 
obtained from the manufacturer (Alkermes). Participants will be encouraged to attend 12-step and other 
self-help groups, as well as other treatment providers, according to the selected follow-up plan they have 
developed with their research therapist and Study MD by Week 7.
 Managing controlled substances: Currently the study is run under the NYS Controlled Substance license # 
0400081 held by the NYS OMH and the DEA Researcher Registration # PN0093461 held by the NYSPI 
Pharmacy Department. Dr. Bisaga has obtained his own NYS Controlled Substance license and a federal 


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DEA research license. The drug stock of controlled substances for each project will be ordered, maintained 
and prepared under the Institutional registration at the NYSPI Pharmacy (OMH/NYS Controlled Substance 
license # 0400081).
 
You can upload charts or diagrams if any
Criteria for Early Discontinuation  
Criteria for Early Discontinuation
Criteria for Study Dropout during Detoxification
We have operationalized the criteria for study dropout during the detoxification procedure as follows: 
1. Participant is unable to tolerate oral naltrexone induction on 3 consecutive visits, as demonstrated by 
continued opioid use and/or failed naloxone challenge. 
2. Participant refuses XR-NTX injection or demonstrates moderate or severe opioid withdrawal in response 
to 25 mg oral naltrexone (COWS score 13-36) 
3. Participant requests withdrawal from study to receive agonist maintenance or to pursue other treatment 
options. 
4. Participant experiences medical or psychiatric worsening of a condition deemed to make further study 
participation hazardous 
5. Participant is absent from study visits for 5 days during the detoxification period 
Criteria for Study Dropout following Detoxification
Participants who have completed the detoxification phase of the study will be withdrawn for the following 
reasons: 
1. Relapse to opioid dependence; patient misses scheduled XR-NTX injection and resumes opioid use for 
more than 3 days and is unable to provide an opioid-negative urine or to pass a naloxone challenge. 
2. Binges of opioid use resulting in overdose or severe somnolence, or in attempts to override the blockade. 
3. Clinical deterioration rendering further study participation hazardous (e.g. significant worsening of 
medical or psychiatric condition, elevation of liver enzymes to >5 times normal, dangerous escalation of 
non-opioid drug or alcohol use). 
4. Absent from study visits for 14 days or 6 consecutive visits post-XR-NTX induction, unless patient has 
remained blocked from opiates (i.e. within 28 days of last XR-NTX injection) and in regular telephone 
contact with staff.
5. If a participant has a Global or Opiate CGI improvement score of 6 or greater at any time, the participant 
will meet with an MD for a clinical evaluation of serious psychiatric symptoms or continued opiate use that 
puts the participant at harm for self-destructive behavior. Clinical judgement of continued study 
participation or discontinuation following the evaluation will be documented in patient's clinical chart.
Relapse is the major clinical endpoint in naltrexone studies, since the usual failure mode with naltrexone is 
that a patient stops taking the medicine, resumes heroin, and rapidly becomes re-dependent. In the present 


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trial we will adopt procedures that we implemented in other studies in our division that use XR-NTX (IRB 
# 5307, #4847) (see above for handling of lapse or relapse involving  XR-NTX). 
Patients who fail two consecutive naloxone challenges are considered to have relapsed and are referred for 
inpatient detoxification or agonist maintenance, as deemed clinically appropriate and in accordance with the 
patient’s wishes. The Principal Investigator may also decide to administratively withdraw participants who 
show other clinically significant worsening of medical or psychiatric symptoms, evidence of significant 
discomfort related to the withholding of rescue medication, any behavior which suggests significant risk 
from attempts to over-ride blockade, subject request, and noncompliance with study procedures (missing at 
least 6 consecutive visits or 2 weeks).
Blood and other Biological Samples
Please create or insert a table describing the proposed collection of blood or other biological specimens
Approximately 10 cc of blood is drawn at baseline for blood chemistries , CBC, and pregnancy(females). 
Since naltrexone occasionally produces reversible liver toxicity, liver enzymes (approx 5 cc) will be 
followed  to monitor safety. Liver function tests will be drawn at baseline and  and the end of the study. We 
will also draw  4 x 6-7 ml tubes at consent and the end of study to examine in biofluid-derived extracellular 
vesicle content for the existence of biomarkers related to naltrexone treatment. Additionally 50 ml of 
urine and 4 ml of saliva will be collected at baseline and end of study.  
Assessment Instruments
Create a table or give a brief description of the instruments that will be used for assessment
MINI- International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) (30 minutes) (Screening Visit)
Urine sample for toxicology (5 min) (Daily during induction phase; bi-weekly during post induction)
Clinical Global Impression Scale- Observer (CGI-O) (5 min) (Weekly)
Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) (5 min) (Weekly)
Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) (2 minutes) (Daily during induction phase; bi-weekly during 
post induction)
Subjective Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SOWS)(2 minutes)(Daily during induction phase; bi-weekly during 
post induction)
Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects (SAFTEE) (3 min) (Weekly)
Concomitant Medications Form (3 min) (Weekly)
Locator Form (5 minutes) (Baseline)
Craving Scale (2 min) (Daily during induction phase; bi-weekly during post induction)
Vital Signs Nursing Form (3 min) (Daily during induction phase; bi-weekly during post induction)
End Study Form (5 min)(End of Study)
 Risk Assessment Battery (RAB) (5 min) Baseline & End of study 
Risk Interview (30 minutes) End of Study
Please attach copies, unless standard instruments are used


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RISK INTERVIEW.pdf
Off label and investigational use of drugs/devices
Choose from the following that will be applicable to your study 
Research Related Delay to Treatment
Will research procedures result in a delay to treatment?
Yes
Maximum duration of delay to any treatment 
2 weeks. 
Maximum duration of delay to standard care or treatment of known efficacy
Screening, diagnostic and medical evaluation to determine eligibility are generally completed within 3 to 5 
days. It may take another week to complete a longer evaluation (for example if input is needed from another 
treating physician), or for patients to arrange to be absent from work or family responsibilities. Clinical staff 
are in regular contact with patients during this time, and patients are informed of other treatment options 
available in the community.
Treatment to be provided at the end of the study
All participants who remain active in treatment will have an End-of-Study visit, within a week of the final 
study day (28 days after second XR-NTX injection), during which final ratings measures, and toxicology 
will be obtained. At the conclusion of the protocol, the participants will be offered supportive therapy for at 
least one additional month or until an appropriate referral for on-going treatment is made. If the patient is 
interested to continue on XR-NTX, we will try to work with the patient’s insurance to provide coverage to 
continue XR-NTX.  Most insurance plans cover Vivitrol, and we have devloped a network of providers who 
we have referred patients to. If the patient is unable to find a provider to administer injection but we were 
able to secure the medication through patient's insurance and the patient is at risk to become unblocked we 
will administer the injection. 
 
Participants who had no response to naltrexone treatment, such as those who continued using opioids while 
on naltrexone as well as those who stopped taking naltrexone (missed scheduled injections) and/or resumed 
opioids after missing naltrexone, are considered to be at very high risk of a full relapse and overdose. These 
individuals will be immediately directed toward either inpatient detoxification followed by a residential 
treatment, or toward agonist maintenance with either buprenorphine/naloxone or methadone. Methadone 
maintenance treatment is widely available in the community; however, access to buprenorphine treatment is 
more restricted.
 
In order to minimize the risk of relapse due to the lack of access to the medication and the gap between 
treatment providers we would like to offer 2-week supply buprenorphine/naloxone 8mg to participants who 
are in the process of being referred out to either inpatient treatment or an agonist maintenance program. We 
will continue to provide additional support including frequent, daily if needed visits at our clinic for a 


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maximum of 2 weeks.
Participants who did not come for a clinic visit for 14 consecutive days will be removed from the study, and 
the next day after their last visit will be a point of dropout. 
 
At the End Study, or the point of dropout, the research psychiatrist will complete the End-of-Study Form 
indicating: 
1) trial completer/noncompleter status,
2) opioid abstinent/non-abstinent status (confirmed by the urine toxicology) during the last four weeks in the 
trial
3) number of weeks completed
4) the reasons for early removal (if applicable)
Study Discharge/Aftercare Plan
Discharge and aftercare planning and implementation will be incorporated into the study. A formal 
Discharge Plan will be completed by a clinician and approved by a study physician prior to the End of Study 
visit. A Study Discharge Checklist (SDC; see attached) will be used to assist clinicians in planning the most 
appropriate disposition and to monitor patients’ transition out of the research protocol and overlap of care 
with the subsequent provider. SDC consists of treatment response summary, pre-discharge assessment, 
discharge plan, and post-discharge follow-up. 
 
Treatment response status will be operationalized as one of the following:
a. Full response: Abstinent for the duration of study, no craving 
b. Delayed full response: isolated use episodes early in treatment, no craving 
c. Partial response: abstinent at the end of study but with intermittent use throughout treatment, including 
the preceding month 
d. Non-response: use and craving throughout treatment period
e. Relapse: stopping naltrexone and resumption of opioid use 
Participants who are full responders (a or b) are candidates for continuing naltrexone maintenance. Partial 
and non-responders are candidates for agonist treatment. Participants who relapsed are candidates for 
inpatient detoxification or agonist treatment. Pre-discharge assessment will be used to recognize risk factors 
for relapse to identify patients who, in the absence of STARS-level of intensive care, are unlikely to do well 
on antagonist and may need to be referred to standard format of continuing treatment such as agonist 
maintenance.
Discussion of treatment recommendations as well as risks and benefits of accepting and refusing referrals 
will take place and will be documented. Such a plan will be formalized and approved by a study physician 
no later than 4 weeks prior to planned treatment termination (by study week 4). If a patient misses 
discharge-planning visits, the discharge plan will be sent to the patient in the mail .
If a patient has not made a successful transfer of care by the end of follow-up period, despite full 
compliance with recommendations, additional visits may be offered to enable appropriate placement. If 
patient is interested to continue on XR-NTX, we will try to secure medication samples from the 
manufacturer (Alkermes) and work with the patient’s insurance to provide coverage to continue on XR-
NTX.


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For participants who are unable to secure follow-up treatment with another provider by Study Week 8 or 
before the end of the blockade of the last naltrexone injection (4 weeks after the injection), we will discuss 
alternative treatment options such as treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone or oral naltrexone, with a 
strong recommendation for treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone as the safest treatment option. If 
participants chose buprenorphine they will be inducted and stabilized for 1-2 weeks after which they will be 
referred to a provider in the community to continue treatment. If participant prefer to be treated with 
naltrexone, we will initiate treatment using 3 times per week dosing (100 mg on Mon, 100 mg on Wed, and 
150 mg on Friday) with onsite monitoring if possible or we will involve and train a significant other for 
monitoring at home. During oral naltrexone maintenance we will continue efforts to transition patient onto 
injection naltrexone. If we have available spare doses of XR-NTX, we will offer an additional injection of 
XR-NTX to participants who intend to continue treatment with XR-NTX but are unable to secure a follow-
up injection in time due to a delay with the participant's insurance, or scheduling with the follow-up 
treatment provider.
Clinical Treatment Alternatives
Clinical treatment alternatives
Naltrexone maintenance and Relapse Prevention Therapy are effective and accepted treatments for opioid 
dependence. The major alternatives for outpatients with opioid dependence would be either methadone or 
buprenorphine/naloxone maintenance, which has a high success rate for patients willing to take it; injection 
naltrexone maintenance without research procedures; or inpatient detoxification followed by  residential 
treatment. Detoxification is associated with high relapse rates in the absence of antagonist maintenance.
Risks/Discomforts/Inconveniences 
Risks that could be encountered during the study period
Risks of the Buprenorphine-Clonidine-Naltrexone Procedure
In this procedure, opiate-dependent patients are stabilized briefly on the partial opiate agonist 
buprenorphine. During subsequent administration of naltrexone and throughout the detoxification, 
withdrawal symptoms are treated with clonidine, an alpha- 2- adrenergic receptor agonist which reduces 
sympathetic nervous system output produced by opiate withdrawal, clonazepam, a benzodiazepine which 
reduces the anxiety and dysphoria and permits sleep, and other prn medications such as trazodone or 
zolpidem for insomnia. Opiate withdrawal causes agitation, elevated pulse and blood pressure and other 
signs of sympathetic arousal, and sometimes confusion. Clonidine may produce somnolence or hypotension. 
Clonazepam commonly may produce somnolence. The procedure is conducted in a setting equivalent to a 
day hospital, with a study physician present at all times, to permit close monitoring of vital signs and mental 
status. 
Naltrexone does not provide a blockade for other substances of abuse, such as cocaine, benzodiazepines, or 
alcohol. Thus, patients remain at risk of experiencing intoxicating effects and/or overdose with these drugs. 
This risk is highlighted in the consent form. Rare cases of allergic pneumonia following depot 
administration have been reported. Patients are advised of this in the consent form and are urged to contact 


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staff immediately if they develop any trouble breathing. We have observed two cases of allergic hives in 
patients treated with naltrexone. This risk is highlighted in the study consent form.
 
The risks associated with buprenorphine administered to participants stabilized on naltrexone are relatively 
low. Naltrexone will block the majority of mu-opioid effects (Gerra et al., 2006) and therefore: 1) risk of 
sedation and other adverse effects related to mu-opioid receptor-mediated effects is low, and 2) it is unlikely 
that physiological dependence will be produced. 
Buprenorphine will be dispensed daily during the induction phase, and weekly after administration of the 
first XR-NTX injection. Buprenorphine will be dispensed by medical staff trained in the use of opioids, and 
in the management of adverse effects of opioids. The doses proposed for use in the current application are 
rather low as compared to doses used in the treatment of opioid addiction.
The use of buprenorphine in opioid-abusing, opioid-dependent volunteers is also associated with the risk of 
using the medication for the purposes of achieving euphoria. If sublingual buprenorphine is crushed and 
used parenterally, there is an increased risk of adverse effects but, again, all acute effects should be blocked 
by naltrexone. Participants will be warned of this risk and advised not to use the medication in this manner. 
Such an event, if it were to occur, would be short-lived and not life threatening. If it is determined that 
patients have been abusing their buprenorphine in such a manner, they will be removed from the study and 
transferred to methadone maintenance. Deaths have occurred in patients who were either injecting, or taking 
massive oral sublingual doses of buprenorphine in combination with benzodiazepines. It is also likely that 
the benzodiazepines were injected in those cases. We will monitor participants for evidence of 
benzodiazepine abuse and remove from the study if clinically indicated.
Risks of Relapse
Treatment with buprenorphine is also associated with a high risk of relapse (Raistrick et al. 2005), and a 
remote risk of opioid overdose if the patient uses a significant amount of opioids after losing tolerance. Risk 
minimization procedures include exclusion of patients with a history of overdose in the past three years, 
regular monitoring of urine toxicology and opioid use, and referral for agonist treatment or inpatient 
detoxification if relapse occurs. 
Side Effects of Naltrexone
Naltrexone has been associated with reversible hepatocellular injury indicated by elevated liver enzymes 
when administered at doses substantially greater than the 50mg per day dose recommended for maintenance 
treatment of opiate dependence and proposed for the present studies. When used in the recommended dose 
range in opiate-dependent patients, this risk is remote (Brahen et al., 1988). Naltrexone is therefore 
contraindicated in patients with acute hepatitis or liver failure, and such patients are excluded from the 
study. Patients with hepatic enzyme levels greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal are therefore 
excluded. Liver enzymes will be repeated at regular intervals over the 8-week treatment course. LA 
naltrexone achieves higher blood levels than oral naltrexone initially, but these should remain lower than 
levels associated with hepatitis.
If naltrexone-induced hepatitis were to occur in the setting of depot, where the naltrexone would be only 
very slowly eliminated, this would prolong exposure to the offending agent. However, the experience with 
long-acting injectable naltrexone also suggests it is safe. In our studies with long-acting naltrexone several 
patients experienced elevation in liver enzymes, which were determined to be related to hepatitis C. One 
patient in the depot naltrexone trial developed diabetes mellitus, which was deemed unlikely to be study 
related. 


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During the outpatient detoxification phase of the study, patients will have daily doses of oral naltrexone 
supervised at the clinic. If a patient misses one or more oral naltrexone doses and resumes regular opiate 
use, then taking a dose of naltrexone will precipitate opiate withdrawal, which may be quite severe. Patients 
will be warned not to take the naltrexone if they have missed their dose for more than three days in a row 
and resumed opiate use for more than one day. They will be told that the reaction could resemble that 
experienced during the initial buprenorphine-clonidine-naltrexone procedure. Patients will be advised to 
report to the clinic for clinical assessment by a study physician. If history and urine toxicology findings 
suggest a lapse or possible relapse, a naloxone challenge may be necessary. If the naloxone challenge is 
positive (withdrawal is precipitated), then the patient will be managed according to guidelines described 
above (see section entitled Handling of Lapses and Relapses). 
Relapsed patients who cannot resume naltrexone are referred for inpatient detoxification or outpatient 
buprenorphine or methadone maintenance. Self-administration of large doses of opiates may override the 
blockade produced by naltrexone, resulting in opiate overdosage with its attendant risks including 
respiratory depression and death. Patients will be warned of the severe danger of trying to override the 
blockade. Also patients who have stopped naltrexone for several days and resume opiates will not be 
tolerant initially, so that the quantities of opiates self administered prior to treatment, when they were 
tolerant, may be quite dangerous in the non-tolerant state. Patients will be warned of this. Patients with a 
history of drug overdose in the past 3 years will be excluded. 
Patients who self-administer opiates to the point of somnolence or stupor will be removed from the trial and 
referred to inpatient detoxification or to methadone maintenance treatment. It is notable that XR-naltrexone 
in theory might protect against this risk, since naltrexone blood levels decline gradually over a period of 
weeks rather than the abrupt decline which occurs when oral naltrexone is discontinued. In the event of a 
medical emergency requiring opiate analgesia, a patient on naltrexone will require higher doses of opiates 
than normally administered. Patients will be informed of this and will be given a naltrexone medication card 
to carry in their wallet. 
Pregnancy
Both the buprenorphine-clonidine-naltrexone procedure and naltrexone maintenance are considered 
contraindicated in pregnancy. Several small case series (Hulse et al., 2001; 2004) are reassuring in 
suggesting favorable pregnancy outcomes in women detoxified and maintained on naltrexone while 
pregnant. However, standard practice suggests methadone maintenance is the treatment of choice for opioid 
dependent pregnant women, and we do not consider the small size of these case series sufficient to amend 
that recommendation. Absence of pregnancy will be confirmed at baseline and monthly during the study 
with urinary HCG. During the screening period, a serum (quantitative) pregnancy test will be obtained prior 
to administration of XR-naltrexone. For women, regular use of an adequate contraception method 
(diaphragm with spermicide, condom with spermicide, birth control pills) is required for inclusion in the 
study. In addition, urine pregnancy will be tested on Day 5 or Day 10, prior to administration of XR-NTX. 
Patients who become pregnant during the trial will be removed from the trial and treated as clinically 
indicated. 
Blood Tests
Blood drawing may cause slight discomfort at site of needle entry, resulting in a small bruise. 
Naloxone Challenge Test


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This test will be performed under the supervision of a study physician and will take approximately 45 min to 
complete. The risks of a dose of 0.2-0.8 mg naloxone administered IM are the signs and symptoms 
associated with opioid withdrawal (“gooseflesh,” “vomiting,” “tremor,” “uncontrollable yawning,” etc.). 
These will be assessed every 10 min. for up to 45 min. During the procedure, we will measure blood 
pressure and heart rate before and up to 30 min. after the naloxone dose. 
 
Intramuscular Injection of Naltrexone
XR-NTX injections may be followed by pain, tenderness, induration, abscess, sterile abscess, and pruritus. 
Cases of serious injection site reactions, some of which involved surgical intervention, have been reported. 
Participants will be evaluated for injection site reaction at each outpatient visit, and will be educated about 
signs and symptoms of site reaction and will be encouraged to bring it to the attention of medical staff if any 
of these occurs. Injection with this formulation of depot naltrexone (XR-NTX) was well tolerated in over 
400 alcohol-dependent patients treated with monthly injections for 6 months in the pivotal trial leading to 
FDA approval for alcohol dependence (Garbutt et al 2005, Anton et al. 2006). More recently, XR-NTX has 
been approved by FDA for the prevention of relapse to opioid dependence, following opioid detoxification. 
Risks associated with receiving vouchers or cash equivalents
During outpatient treatment participants will receive vouchers or cash equivalents, which could pose a risk 
of using the cash to buy drugs. In response, we have developed procedures to minimize and protect against 
this risk. A voucher incentive system is being used to compensate patients for their time and travel and to 
encourage compliance with study procedures. For that purpose we have adopted procedures used widely in 
the context of Contingency Management Therapy. We believe that using low-value incentives is essential to 
maximize participation in study-related procedures, including nursing and physician visits for safety 
monitoring, study outcomes collection, and therapy participation. At each visit patients will earn $15 after 
completing all procedures scheduled for this visit.  Risks that participants will attempt to use study 
payments to purchase drugs, though still present, are rather small with current procedures.
Describe procedures for minimizing risks
Exclusion Criteria: The exclusion criteria of this study are designed to minimize the risks to 
patientparticipants. Patients are excluded if they have severe psychiatric illness (mood disorder with 
functional impairment or suicide risk, schizophrenia) which might interfere with their ability to participate 
in the outpatient therapy. A history of drug overdoses will be exclusionary. Pregnancy, lactation, or failure 
to practice a reliable birth control method is exclusionary, and patients are instructed to inform their 
psychiatrist immediately if they suspect they may be pregnant. Urine HCG is tested during screening and 
monthly throughout the trial. Serum (quantitative) pregnancy test will be obtained during screening. The 
baseline medical evaluation includes physical examination, blood chemistry profile (including liver function 
tests), complete blood count, urinalysis (including HCG), and electrocardiogram, urine toxicology, and 
naloxone challenge if opiate dependence diagnosis is unclear. The evaluating psychiatrist reviews all these 
and takes a medical history. 
Any disorders which might make buprenorphine-clonidine-naltrexone or naltrexone maintenance hazardous, 
such as uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis with transaminase levels greater than 
three times the upper limit of normal, renal disease, or advanced AIDS are exclusionary. Participants with 
uncertain hepatitis status and unexplained liver enzyme elevation  > 5 times the upper limit of normal will 
be offered hepatitis panel testing to determine study eligibility. Patients with acute hepatitis infection and 
increasing liver function tests during screening will be excluded from study participation. The patient will 


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be assisted in obtaining appropriate medical evaluation and treatment, and may be eligible for the research 
study once the problem is controlled. History of an allergic reaction to any of the medications used is an 
exclusion criterion.
Patient Education: All patients will be informed through the informed consent form and discussions with the 
research psychiatrist and therapist of the possible side effects and risks enumerated above. In addition, at 
monthly visits the psychiatrist will query side effects in general, and events of specific concern including 
missing naltrexone doses in conjunction with resumed opiate use or heavy opiate use in an effort to override 
the blockade, and the risk of overdose and death in these situations. Therapists will also be trained to query 
for such events and bring them to the attention of the psychiatrist who will follow up. Patients will give 
informed consent before entering the study. Patients are instructed to call us if any untoward effects occur 
and are given the phone number of our 24-hour answering service.
Patient Monitoring and Removal from Study: The psychiatrist and/or therapist will assess appropriateness 
for continuation in the research study on a continuous basis, and will remove from the trial patients with 
significant clinical deterioration or noncompliance of a type which could be dangerous. Criteria for removal 
from the study will include:
1.) Relapse to opiate dependence: This will be suspected if a patient misses more than three days in a row of 
naltrexone and resumes opiate use for more than three days during that time and produces an opiate positive 
urine. It may be confirmed with a naloxone challenge. 
2.) Binges of opiate use with the intent to over-ride the blockade produced by naltrexone, or opiate use 
resulting in severe intoxication or somnolence. 
3.) Seven (7) consecutive missed days during detoxification period or 14 consecutive missed days post-XR-
NTX induction (unless they are in contact with clinic staff).
4.) Other clinical deterioration which cannot be managed safely in the context of outpatient treatment. This 
would include a patient who becomes suicidal, or a patient who goes on severe drug binges (including 
nonopiate drugs), endangering him/herself, or CGI-S>6. 
5.) Elevation of liver enzymes In the injectable naltrexone condition, if liver enzyme are elevated > 3 times 
normal, the next injection will be delayed. 
A hepatitis panel will be obtained and liver enzymes repeated; long-acting injectable naltrexone will not be 
re-administered until liver enzymes fall below 3 times upper limit of normal. If liver enzymes do not 
improve, the subject will discontinue naltrexone. 
If a patient is removed from the research trial for medical reasons, he/she will be retained in open treatment 
for the remaining of the study period and will be offered a supply of buprenorphine while transitioning to 
other treatment. Upon removal of a patient from the trial due to clinical deterioration, the patient will be 
referred for appropriate follow-up treatment, in most instances either inpatient detoxification or residential 
treatment, or methadone maintenance. The PI, Co-PI, or a study psychiatrist is available 24 hours/day by 
phone and/or beeper in case of emergency.
Methods to Protect Confidentiality


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Describe methods to protect confidentiality
Confidentiality: In the course of treatment, patients may divulge information which is sensitive
and may have adverse social consequences if released. This would include information released
to insurance companies, family members, or made public in any way. Patient records are kept in
locked files and released only with the patient's consent. Contact with family members or
significant others is made only with the patient's express consent. Audiotaped psychotherapy
sessions and digital CD-ROMS created from these sessions will be stored in locked cabinets
without any identifying information, and destroyed after 10 years. All mainframe computer and
microcomputer data is stored without names or other uncoded identification. Patients will be
identified only through a numerical code in both the mainframe and microcomputer databases,
while a paper code list will be kept under lock and key by the PI and the Research Assistant. A
Federal Certificate of Confidentiality will be obtained.
Will the study be conducted under a certificate of confidentiality?
Yes, we will apply for the Certificate of Confidentiality
Direct Benefits to Subjects  
Direct Benefits to Subjects
Participants may benefit from many of the components of the treatment that they receive, induction onto 
injection naltrexone, naltrexone maintenance, and components of behavioral therapy.
Compensation and/or Reimbursement 
Will compensation or reimbursement for expenses be offered to subjects?
Yes
Please describe and indicate total amount and schedule of payment(s). 
Include justification for compensation amounts and indicate if there are bonus payments.
Participants will receive $15 for each visit for completion of study assessments and reimbursement for 
travel. Participants can also earn an additional $40 if they complete an optional interview at the end of 
the study. Participants can earn approximately $430 total over the course of the study.
References
References
Anton RF, O’Malley SS, Ciraulo DA, Cisler RA, Couper D, Donovan DM,Gastfriend DR, Hosking JD, 
Johnson BA, LoCastro JS, Longabaugh R, Mason BJ, Mattson ME, Miller WR, Pettinati HM, Randall CL, 
Swift R, Weiss RD, Williams LD, Zweben A (2006). Combined pharmacotherapies and behavioral 
interventions for alcohol dependence: the combine study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 295(17): 
2003-17.
Brahen, L. S., Capone, T. J., & Capone, D. M. (1988). Naltrexone: lack of effect on hepatic enzymes. The 


Protocol Summary Form
7456
Bisaga, Adam
Page 26 of 26
Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 28(1), 64-70.
Garbutt JC, Kranzler HR, O’Malley SS, Gastfriend DR, Pettinati HM, Silverman BL, Loewy JW, Ehrich 
EW (2005). Efficacy and tolerability of long-acting injectable naltrexone for alcohol dependence: a 
randomized controlled trial. JAMA 293(12): 1617-25.
Gerra, G., Fantoma, A., & Zaimovic, A. (2006). Naltrexone and buprenorphine combination in the treatment 
of opioid dependence. Journal of psychopharmacology, 20(6), 806-814.
Gowing, L., Ali, R., & White, J. M. (2009). Buprenorphine for the management of opioid withdrawal. The 
Cochrane Library.
Hammig, R., Kremter, A., Strasser, J., von Bardeleben, U., Gugger, B., Walter, M., Duresteler, K.M., 
Vogel, M. (2016). Use of microdoses for induction of buprenorphine treatment with overlapping full opioid 
agonist use: the Bernese method. Subst Abuse Rehabil 20:7:99-105.
Hser, Y. I., Evans, E., Grella, C., Ling, W., & Anglin, D. (2015). Long-term course of opioid addiction. 
Harvard review of psychiatry, 23(2), 76-89.
Hulse GK, O'Neil G, Arnold-Reed DE (2004). Methadone maintenance vs. implantable naltrexone 
treatment in the pregnant heroin user. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 85(2): 170-1.
Hulse, G. K., & O'Neill, G. (2001). Methadone and the pregnant user: a matter for careful clinical 
consideration. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 41(3), 329-332.
Raistrick, D., West, D., Finnegan, O., Thistlethwaite, G., Brearley, R., & Banbery, J. (2005). A comparison 
of buprenorphine and lofexidine for community opiate detoxification: results from a randomized controlled 
trial. Addiction, 100(12), 1860-1867.
Reece, A. S. (2009). Comparative treatment and mortality correlates and adverse event profile of implant 
naltrexone and sublingual buprenorphine. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 37(3), 256-265.
Resnick, R.B., Kestenbaum, R.S., Washton, A., Poole, D. (1977). Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal: a 
method for rapid induction onto naltrexone. Clin Pharmacol Ther, 21(4):409-13.
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Upload copy(ies) of unbolded Consent Form(s)
CF_COOLIO3_Procedure 3_UNBOLDED_6.22.18.pdf
CF_7456_Procedure2_UNBOLDED_6.22.18.pdf
Upload copy(ies) of bolded Consent Form(s)
CF_COOLIO3_Procedure 3_BOLDED_6.22.18.pdf
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Coolios Hippa.pdf
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SAP_001.pdf: 
 
 
DOCUMENT COVER PAGE 
 
 
Buprenorphine as Adjunct to Outpatient Induction onto XR-naltrexone (Vivitrol)  
Statistical Analysis Plan 
 
 
 
NYS PI IRB #7456 
 
NCT03113409 
 
Jan 10, 2018 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
2 
  
Statistical Analysis Plan 
Buprenorphine as Adjunct to Outpatient Induction onto Vivitrol  
 
Study IRB #7456 
New York State Psychiatric Institute 
 
 
 
Study Approval Date 
February 21, 2017 
 
PI: Adam Bisaga MD 
 
 
 
 
 


 
3 
Study Objectives and Endpoints 
The primary objective of this pilot open-label study is to evaluate three new outpatient 
pharmacological procedures to facilitate transition onto a long- acting, injectable form of 
naltrexone 380 mg (XR-NTX). 
The primary aim is to test the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of the new methods to 
improve tolerability of naltrexone induction and reducing attrition during detoxification and the 
first month of naltrexone treatment.  
The primary endpoint is the receipt of the two injections of XR-naltrexone given first after 
completion of the detoxification and induction procedure and the second administered 4 weeks 
later.  
 
Study Participants and Design 
Participants in the study are individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) who are actively using 
opioids and are seeking treatment with naltrexone as a relapse-prevention intervention 
This is a non-randomized and unblinded trial.  
Interested participants will be first screened to determine study inclusion and exclusion criteria. 
Eligible participants will receive treatment in an outpatient setting and will be consecutively 
enrolled into treatment with one of the three study procedures: Procedure 1, Procedure 2, and 
Procedure 3. 
Treatment will include following phases: 1) opioid withdrawal management, 2) initiation of 
naltrexone given orally followed by an injection of XR-naltrexone, 3) Outpatient relapse-
prevention treatment, 4) administration of the second XR-naltrexone injection approximately 4 
weeks after the first injection.  
In addition to pharmacological treatment, all participants will receive a psychosocial 
intervention that will include elements of motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral 
relapse prevention therapy.  
 
Sample Size 
Total enrollment goal is approximately 30 adult participants with OUD. We will enroll the first 
10 participants in Procedure 1, the next 10 in Procedure 2, and the last 10 in Procedure 3.  
 
 


 
4 
Study Hypotheses 
Primary Hypothesis Procedure 1: Adjunctive treatment with buprenorphine 4 mg during the 
first 5 weeks of naltrexone maintenance will improve opioid abstinence and treatment 
retention, defined as receiving the second XR- NTX injection.  
Primary Hypothesis Procedure 2: Providing buprenorphine 4 mg daily during gradual 9-day 
titration of oral naltrexone will improve tolerability and success of XR-NTX induction, defined as 
receiving the first XR-NTX injection.  
Primary Hypothesis Procedure 3: Providing buprenorphine 4 mg daily during gradual 9-day 
titration of oral naltrexone and adjunctive treatment with buprenorphine 4 mg during the first 
5 weeks of naltrexone maintenance will improve opioid abstinence and treatment retention, 
defined as receiving the second XR-NTX injection.  
 
Study Outcome Measures 
Procedure 1 and Procedure 3  
Primary Outcome measure is the measure of XR-naltrexone initiation success defined as the 
receipt of two consecutive injections of XR-naltrexone. 
Procedure 2 
Primary Outcome measure is the measure of detoxification and XR-naltrexone induction 
success defined as the receipt of the first injection of XR-naltrexone. 
Safety of the proposed procedures will be evaluated using a structured instrument for obtaining 
treatment-emergent adverse effects.  
Additional assessment will include measures of residual opioid withdrawal during treatment. 
     
Study Analysis 
The primary analysis is a summary statistic of the percent of participants who initiate treatment 
and receive two consecutive XR-naltrexone injections (Procedures 1 and 3) or the percent of 
participants who complete detoxification and receive the first XR-naltrexone injection.  
In addition, a percentage of patients that received the second injection among those that 
receive the first injection will also be calculated (Procedure 1 and 3). A summary of the adverse 
events and serious adverse events will also be presented  
Baseline demographic characteristics will be summarized. For continuous variables, descriptive 
statistics (n, mean, SD, and range) will be provided. For categorical variables, patient counts, 
and percentages will be provided.