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Intranasal Hydromorphone for the Treatment of Acute Pain in Children: A Pilot Study.

Intranasal Hydromorphone for the Treatment of Acute Pain in Children: A Pilot Study.

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02437669
Enrollment
35
Registered
2015-05-07
Start date
2015-05-31
Completion date
2018-04-30
Last updated
2019-05-28

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

Conditions

Pain

Keywords

Intranasal, Hydromorphone, Pediatric, Emergency department

Brief summary

Intranasal hydromorphone has been shown to be effective in reducing acute pain in adults. It has not been previously studied in children, but may be a viable option for effectively and safely reducing pain in children by administering an analgesic by the intranasal route. This study will be a prospective, open-label pilot study of intranasal hydromorphone in children with moderate to severe acute pain presenting to the pediatric emergency department. The investigators aim to describe the amount of pain reduction associated with intranasal hydromorphone, and to determine the optimal dose of intranasal hydromorphone associated with a clinically meaningful improvement in acute pain.

Detailed description

Primary Aim: Determine the change in pain intensity in children with moderate to severe pain who receive intranasal hydromorphone one hour after administration. Secondary Aim(s): Describe the incidence of minor and major adverse events associated with intranasal hydromorphone in children with acute pain. The investigators will assess the patient's pain at baseline (prior to study drug administration), then after study drug administration: 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 60 minutes, and then every 30 minutes thereafter until 6 hours; administration of non-protocolized rescue medication administration (i.e. administered after first two rescue doses of IN hydromorphone); or discharge from emergency department (whichever comes first). The pain score at 60 minutes will be the primary outcome. The investigators will evaluate qualitative improvement in pain intensity at 15- and 30-minutes after study drug administration. If there is no improvement, or worsening of pain intensity, at each assessment, an additional rescue dose rescue dose of intranasal hydromorphone will be administered. After 60 minutes, the treating physician may administer any additional rescue medications at their discretion to treat the child's pain. The patient will be assessed for minor and major adverse events for the duration of the study.

Interventions

DRUGHydromorphone

To be administered by intranasal route using mucosal atomization device.

Sponsors

Columbia University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
4 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 4 to 17 years old, inclusive * Moderate to severe pain (i.e. FPS-R or vNRS score of 4 or more) * Requires parenteral opioid analgesic to treat their pain, as decided by treating physician

Exclusion criteria

* Allergy or known contraindication to receiving opioids * Receipt of any opioid or benzodiazepine within preceding 6 hours * Presence of intranasal obstruction that cannot be cleared readily * Cannot speak English or Spanish * Patient unlikely to be able to complete self-report measures of pain or questionnaires * Known liver or kidney problems * Currently critically ill * Chronic pain condition (e.g. sickle cell disease, fibromyalgia)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Score on Faces Pain Scale - Revised1 hourPain was measured using the Faces Pain Scale - Revised (FPS-R). The FPS-R is a self-reported measure of pain that is administered using a picture of 6 different faces lined up in a row, each face representing an escalating degree of pain intensity. The faces, starting from the left-most face and moving towards the right-most face, are scored 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. A score of 0 represents no pain, a score of 10 represents very much pain (i.e. maximum possible pain). More information about the FPS-R can be found here: https://bit.ly/2VPk8GM

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Minor Adverse Events6 hoursLightheadedness, dizziness; confusion; sleepy, drowsy, tiredness; nausea; vomiting; itchiness, warm sensation; dry mouth; bad taste in mouth; rhinitis.
Number of Major Adverse Events6 hoursOxygen desaturation, respiratory depression, hypotension, bradycardia, need for supplemental oxygen, bag-mask ventilation, airway support intervention, administration naloxone.
Score on Verbal Numeric Rating Scale1 hourPain was measured using the Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS). The VNRS is a self-reported measure of pain that is administered verbally by asking a patient to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain, and 10 representing maximum pain. More information about the VNRS in children can be found here: https://bit.ly/2VZ7aWU

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Intranasal Hydromorphone
Children who received intranasal hydromorphone
35
Total35

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIntranasal Hydromorphone
Age, Continuous11 years
Baseline pain score7 units on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.4
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black
3 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Hispanic
26 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
More than one race
1 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
13 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
22 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 35
other
Total, other adverse events
22 / 35
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 35

Outcome results

Primary

Score on Faces Pain Scale - Revised

Pain was measured using the Faces Pain Scale - Revised (FPS-R). The FPS-R is a self-reported measure of pain that is administered using a picture of 6 different faces lined up in a row, each face representing an escalating degree of pain intensity. The faces, starting from the left-most face and moving towards the right-most face, are scored 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. A score of 0 represents no pain, a score of 10 represents very much pain (i.e. maximum possible pain). More information about the FPS-R can be found here: https://bit.ly/2VPk8GM

Time frame: 1 hour

Population: Decrease in pain score one hour after terminal dose of intranasal hydromorphone administered

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Intranasal HydromorphoneScore on Faces Pain Scale - Revised4.7 units on a scale
Secondary

Number of Major Adverse Events

Oxygen desaturation, respiratory depression, hypotension, bradycardia, need for supplemental oxygen, bag-mask ventilation, airway support intervention, administration naloxone.

Time frame: 6 hours

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Intranasal HydromorphoneNumber of Major Adverse Events0 Major adverse events
Secondary

Number of Minor Adverse Events

Lightheadedness, dizziness; confusion; sleepy, drowsy, tiredness; nausea; vomiting; itchiness, warm sensation; dry mouth; bad taste in mouth; rhinitis.

Time frame: 6 hours

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Intranasal HydromorphoneNumber of Minor Adverse Events39 Minor adverse events
Secondary

Score on Verbal Numeric Rating Scale

Pain was measured using the Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS). The VNRS is a self-reported measure of pain that is administered verbally by asking a patient to rate their pain on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 representing no pain, and 10 representing maximum pain. More information about the VNRS in children can be found here: https://bit.ly/2VZ7aWU

Time frame: 1 hour

Population: Decrease in pain score one hour after terminal dose of intranasal hydromorphone administered

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)
Intranasal HydromorphoneScore on Verbal Numeric Rating Scale5.1 units on a scale

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 3, 2026