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Intranasal Oxytocin for the Treatment of Pain Associated With Interstitial Cystitis

Intranasal Oxytocin for the Treatment of Pain Associated With Interstitial Cystitis

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00919802
Enrollment
25
Registered
2009-06-12
Start date
2010-06-30
Completion date
2015-09-30
Last updated
2017-05-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Interstitial Cystitis

Keywords

Interstitial cystitis (IC), Oxytocin, Bladder, Void

Brief summary

Anecdotal evidence suggests female patients with painful bladder disorder interstitial cystitis (IC) can experience a significant attenuation of their systems while breastfeeding. Since it has been shown that postpartum lactation is a time associated with decreased levels of stress, and stress has been shown to exacerbate IC-related pain, the investigators have developed an interest in the effects of the hormones involved in postpartum lactation on stress and pain. Based on a series of pre-clinical experiments, the investigators believe the hormone oxytoxin has both analgesic and anxiolytic properties which make it a potentially useful agent for the treatment of stress-exacerbated chronic pain syndrome such as IC. Therefore, the investigators propose a double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial of intranasal oxytocin vs. intranasal saline for bladder pain in a cohort of patients with IC and some degree of continuous, daily pain.

Detailed description

Fifty patients will be enrolled in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled single-dose crossover trial comparing intranasal oxytocin to intranasal saline. At the time of enrollment, patients will complete a series of standardized questionnaires detailing information about their IC-related symptoms at baseline as well as comorbid conditions, coping mechanisms (specifically catastrophizing), and baseline ratings of overall pain, depression, anxiety, and global functioning. Once this information is obtained, the patient will receive a one-time dose of intranasal oxytocin or an equivalent volume of intranasal saline. The patients will be monitored for one hour by a physician investigator for toxicities and efficacy and then contacted for follow-up information at 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours. At each of these time points, the patient will be asked to report a verbal pain report, a verbal anxiety report, the number of voids since last contact with an investigator, and the use of any additional medications for pain control or anxiety. In addition, a global response assessment (GRA) score will be obtained at 6 and 24 hours. The patient will be asked to return within a one week period at which time he/she will receive the alternative intranasal agent. Following the second dose, the patient will be monitored for one hour and contact made at 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours as previously described. The primary outcome measure will be the GRA score, which will be analyzed using a Chi-square analysis followed by Fischer's exact test. Secondary outcome measures will be analyzed via ANOVA. If this study indicates that intranasal oxytocin is efficacious for pain control, this could provide for an alternative to current ineffective or invasive treatments for IC-related pain. It is also possible it could eventually be utilized for other forms of chronic pain as well.

Interventions

DRUGOxytocin

A single dose of oxytocin 40 IU (20 IU to each nostril) will be dispensed in a random fashion to subjects. A log will be kept so that the subject will receive a single does of saline as an alternate agent on the second day if needed.

OTHERSaline as a nasal spray

A single dose of saline will be dispensed in a random fashion to subjects. A log will be kept so that the subject will receive a single does of oxytocin 40 IU as an alternate agent on the second day if needed.

Sponsors

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
19 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* 19 - 65 years of age * Must meet the current National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) diagnostic criteria for interstitial cystitis and have some degree of continuous daily pain

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnancy * Under the age of 19 * Older that the age of 65 * Breastfeeding women * Uncontrolled hypertension * History of significant cardiac or pulmonary disease (including arrhythmias) * Known allergy to oxytocin * Severe psychiatric disease * Patients who have undergone procedural interventions within the past month related to their interstitial cystitis

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change From Baseline Measured as Global Response Assessment (GRA) Score at 6 and 24 Hours6 and 24 hours post drug or placebo administration - the data below reflects 6 hour dataThis is a seven-point symmetric scale previously validated for use in IC studies in which patients are asked relative to baseline (over the last 6 hours for purposes of this study), -3 -are you markedly worse, -2 -moderately worse, -1 -slightly worse, 0-no change, +1-slightly improved, +2-moderately improved, or +3-markedly improved. A +2 or +3 can be defined categorically as a positive treatment response

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Secondary Outcome Measures Will Include Change From Baseline in Verbal Reports of Anxiety 6 Hours After Drug/Placebo Administration6 hours post drug or placebo administrationA verbal anxiety report (VAR; 0-10 with 0 being no anxiety and 10 being the worst possible anxiety); a change from baseline measure was calculated for value measured 6 hours post drug/placebo administration

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Protocol Open to Accrual: June 2010, Primary Completion Date: September 2015 and Study Completion Date: September 2015. Recruitment location: University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Pre-assignment details

The major goal of this project was to evaluate the efficacy of intranasal oxytocin in relieving bladder pain in a cohort of patients with interstitial cystitis.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
All Study Participants
Patients will be randomized to receive a single dose of oxytocin 40 IU (20 IU to each nostril) or saline. Patients will be monitored for one hour by a physician investigator for toxicities and efficacy, and then contacted for follow-up information at 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours. The patient will be asked to return within a one-week period at which time the patient will receive the alternative intranasal agent. Following the second dose, the patient will be monitored for one hour and contact made at 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours as previously described.
25
Total25

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAll Study Participants
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
25 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
25 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
23 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
25 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
25 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 250 / 25
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 250 / 25
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 250 / 25

Outcome results

Primary

Change From Baseline Measured as Global Response Assessment (GRA) Score at 6 and 24 Hours

This is a seven-point symmetric scale previously validated for use in IC studies in which patients are asked relative to baseline (over the last 6 hours for purposes of this study), -3 -are you markedly worse, -2 -moderately worse, -1 -slightly worse, 0-no change, +1-slightly improved, +2-moderately improved, or +3-markedly improved. A +2 or +3 can be defined categorically as a positive treatment response

Time frame: 6 and 24 hours post drug or placebo administration - the data below reflects 6 hour data

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
OxytocinChange From Baseline Measured as Global Response Assessment (GRA) Score at 6 and 24 Hours.5 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.2
Saline as a Nasal SprayChange From Baseline Measured as Global Response Assessment (GRA) Score at 6 and 24 Hours-.1 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.2
Comparison: Global Response Assessment (GRA) scores were obtained 6 and 24 hours post oxytocin or saline administration.p-value: 0.688t-test, 2 sided
Secondary

Secondary Outcome Measures Will Include Change From Baseline in Verbal Reports of Anxiety 6 Hours After Drug/Placebo Administration

A verbal anxiety report (VAR; 0-10 with 0 being no anxiety and 10 being the worst possible anxiety); a change from baseline measure was calculated for value measured 6 hours post drug/placebo administration

Time frame: 6 hours post drug or placebo administration

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
OxytocinSecondary Outcome Measures Will Include Change From Baseline in Verbal Reports of Anxiety 6 Hours After Drug/Placebo Administration-1.2 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.4
Saline as a Nasal SpraySecondary Outcome Measures Will Include Change From Baseline in Verbal Reports of Anxiety 6 Hours After Drug/Placebo Administration-1.0 units on a scaleStandard Error 0.4
p-value: 0.7252t-test, 2 sided

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026