Skip to content

Pharmacogenetics of Naltrexone for Stimulant Abuse

Using Pharmacogenetics to Better Evaluate Naltrexone for Treating Stimulant Abuse

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03226223
Enrollment
18
Registered
2017-07-21
Start date
2016-09-15
Completion date
2020-07-30
Last updated
2020-11-24

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

Conditions

Methamphetamine Abuse, Substance Use Disorders

Brief summary

This investigation will be the first study assessing genetic modulation of naltrexone's NTX effects upon the abuse liability of a stimulant drug (methamphetamine). The study team will assess the ability of oral NTX to block the reinforcing and positive subjective effects of intranasal (IN) methamphetamine (30mg/70kg). This investigation could identify an important Gene x Pharmacological interaction, contributing to the personalization of stimulant abuse pharmacotherapy.

Detailed description

A recent meta-analysis concluded that the OPRM1 A118G SNP (rs1799971) significantly moderates the treatment efficacy of Naltrexone (NTX) in treating alcohol abuse, increasing the treatment efficacy by over 2-fold among G-allele carriers (AG/GG). The proposed application would be the first to investigate the moderating effect of this genotype in the efficacy of NTX to treat stimulant abuse. More specifically, the study team proposes to investigate the interaction between NTX and intranasal (IN) methamphetamine (30mg/70kg). Participants who meet DSM criteria for mild-to-severe stimulant use disorder (N=up to 70) will complete 4 testing sessions where drug effects are tested following pretreatment with NTX (0, 50 mg). Naltrexone pretreatment effects upon the abuse liability of IN methamphetamine will be assessed using self-report measurements of positive subjective effects and drug self-administration. Medication effects on these validated predictors of abuse potential will be compared between A118G A allele homozygotes (AA) and G-allele carriers (AG/GG; an anticipated 25% of the total sample), in order to assess genetic moderation of treatment outcome.

Interventions

DRUGIntranasal Methamphetamine

Intranasal Methamphetamine HCL administered at a dose of 30mg per 70 kg of the participants' body weight)

Sponsors

New York State Psychiatric Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Masking description

Participants and study staff conducting the lab sessions will be blinded to the treatment condition (i.e., naltrexone 0 mg or 50 mg)

Intervention model description

Participants will complete two testing sessions in which the effects of oral naltrexone (0 mg & 50 mg) will be tested in combination with intranasal methamphetamine. Participants will complete two testing sessions (naltrexone 0 mg + Methamphetamine & naltrexone 50 mg + methamphetamine), in randomized order.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Male or female age 21 to 50 years 2. DSM-5 criteria for mild-to-severe stimulant use disorder, along with intravenous, intranasal or smoked use of amphetamine-type stimulants in amounts equal to or greater than administered in the current study. 3. Able to give written informed consent to participate. 4. Females must be either post-menopausal, surgically sterilized, or using an acceptable method of contraception (double-barrier method like a condom with a spermicidal lubricant) to participate in this study. 5. Racially Caucasian or of European descent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Currently seeking treatment for a substance use disorder. 2. DSM-5 criteria for moderate-to-severe substance use disorders (except those involving cocaine, amphetamines and nicotine). 3. Psychiatric condition that may affect the participants' ability to provide informed consent (e.g., psychotic disorder), or make participation hazardous for the participant or study staff (e.g., severe depression/suicidality, or risk of violence). 4. Uncontrolled neurological, cardiovascular, and hepatic diseases, active tuberculosis, or any other disorder that might make administration of study medications hazardous. 5. Gastrointestinal or renal disease that would significantly impair absorption, metabolism or excretion of study drug, or require medication or medical treatment. 6. Current treatment with a psychotropic medication that in the physician's judgement would interfere with the study endpoints. 7. History of allergy, adverse reaction, or sensitivity to amphetamines. 8. Medical conditions that may make study participation hazardous: * History of seizures or cardiac risk conditions (unstable angina, cardiac arrhythmias, chest pain, strong palpitations (subjectively defined as the feeling that the heart is beating too hard, too fast, skipping a beat, or fluttering). * Elevated liver function tests (i.e., AST and ALT \> 3 times the upper limit of normal). * Impaired renal function (creatinine \> 1.2). * Hypertension (\>140/90). * Asthmatic symptoms within the past 3 years.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Methamphetamine Self-Administration1 day.To assess the reinforcing effects of methamphetamine, participants complete a drug self-administration procedure. The outcome measure for this procedure is the number of operant responses (clicks on a mouse) participant are willing to make in order to receive drug (methamphetamine).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Positive Subjective Effects of Methamphetamine.1 dayParticipant ratings of methamphetamine Liking, on a 100 mm visual analog scale. Participants are asked to indicate on a 100 mm line the extent to which they agree with the description of the drug provided. The 0 mm end of the line indicates Not at All, while the 100 mm indicates Extremely.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Naltrexone 0mg First, Then Naltrexone 50mg
This aim assess the effects of pretreatment with 0 mg of naltrexone on laboratory measures of the abuse potential of methamphetamine (30mg/70 kg). Intranasal Methamphetamine: Intranasal Methamphetamine HCL administered at a dose of 30mg per 70 kg of the participants' body weight)
8
Naltrexone 50mg First, Then Naltrexone 0mg
This aim assess the effects of pretreatment with 50 mg of naltrexone on laboratory measures of the abuse potential of methamphetamine (30mg/70 kg). Intranasal Methamphetamine: Intranasal Methamphetamine HCL administered at a dose of 30mg per 70 kg of the participants' body weight)
6
Total14

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicNaltrexone 0mg First, Then Naltrexone 50mgTotalNaltrexone 50mg First, Then Naltrexone 0mg
Age, Continuous35.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.5
33.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.9
31.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.3
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
2 Participants3 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
6 Participants10 Participants4 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
8 participants14 participants6 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
8 Participants13 Participants5 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 140 / 14
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 140 / 14
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 140 / 14

Outcome results

Primary

Methamphetamine Self-Administration

To assess the reinforcing effects of methamphetamine, participants complete a drug self-administration procedure. The outcome measure for this procedure is the number of operant responses (clicks on a mouse) participant are willing to make in order to receive drug (methamphetamine).

Time frame: 1 day.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Naltrexone 0 mgMethamphetamine Self-Administration8890 Clicks on a computer mouseStandard Deviation 3509
Naltrexone 50 mgMethamphetamine Self-Administration7116 Clicks on a computer mouseStandard Deviation 3080
Secondary

Positive Subjective Effects of Methamphetamine.

Participant ratings of methamphetamine Liking, on a 100 mm visual analog scale. Participants are asked to indicate on a 100 mm line the extent to which they agree with the description of the drug provided. The 0 mm end of the line indicates Not at All, while the 100 mm indicates Extremely.

Time frame: 1 day

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Naltrexone 0 mgPositive Subjective Effects of Methamphetamine.53.6 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 38.9
Naltrexone 50 mgPositive Subjective Effects of Methamphetamine.57.2 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 32.5

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