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Validating a New Non-invasive Approach to Testing Lidocaine Effectiveness

Reliability Testing of a Non-invasive, Pain-free, Taste-based Assessment Approach to Lidocaine Effectiveness

Status
Completed
Phases
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03680885
Enrollment
20
Registered
2018-09-21
Start date
2019-08-01
Completion date
2020-03-30
Last updated
2020-07-15

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

Conditions

ADHD, Controls

Keywords

Lidocaine ineffectiveness, ADHD, ADD

Brief summary

This work will assess the reliability of a simple painless test for the effectiveness of the commonly used local anesthetic lidocaine

Detailed description

In prior tests with a convenience sample, subjects who reported that they had no trouble getting numb at the dentist, also got numb with lidocaine gel on the surface of the tongue. That numbness prevented them from being able to taste any flavor until the numbness had worn off. Subjects who reported having trouble getting numb at the dentist, could still taste flavors after the application of lidocaine. This work will assess the reliability of a taste-based approach for creating a non-invasive way to test lidocaine effectiveness. The controlled trial will assess the ability of lidocaine oral gel to block taste (e.g., sweet) in 20 adults (ages 18-49) half with history of trouble getting numb at the dentist (Arm 2) and half with no trouble (Arm 1). To determine reproducibility, the taste-based test will be done 4 times on different days, twice with lidocaine and twice with a placebo, with randomization and double-blinding. These repeated results will be compared to a fifth assessment, against the gold standard of injection of lidocaine, assessed using a dental probe. On each of four separate visits, in randomized order, the subject will be tested with tastants to the tongue twice after application of a lidocaine gel to the tongue and twice with a placebo gel. After a wait of two-minutes, the three tastants will be tested. The subject is blinded to the taste and the identity of the gel, which have been compounded to look the same. On the fifth (last) visit, the subject will get an oral injection of lidocaine and the numbness assessed. The results across the five tests will then be analyzed. We are testing in separate studies NCT 03563573 and NCT 03676725 the prevalence of lidocaine ineffectiveness in those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and in the general population without ADHD. We believe the prevalence will be higher in ADHD. As a result, in this evaluation we have one Arm gets numb at the dentist where exclusion criteria includes ADHD and a second Arm has trouble getting numb at the dentist that does not have that exclusion.

Interventions

Lidocaine gel 5%, PEG with FD&C Blue No.1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)

DRUGPlacebo

PEG with FD&C Blue No.1 (Brilliant Blue FCF)

DRUGInjected lidocaine

Standard FDA-approved dental injectable lidocaine

Sponsors

Jacobi Medical Center
CollaboratorOTHER
PhenoSolve, LLC
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

The scoring of the lidocaine test is masked, using the coded identity of the tastes. The tastes will be assessed in random order. Each subject will have 2 tests with lidocaine gel and 2 with a placebo gel, in random order, each on different days. The subjects and other study personnel will be told not to discuss what the subject could or couldn't taste. Scoring will be done only after all testing on the subject is complete. A person not involved in the testing will keep track of which gels the subject has had.

Intervention model description

Half the subjects will have a self-reported history of lidocaine working for them (effective) and half will have a history of difficulty getting numb (ineffective).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 49 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Arm 1 Eligibility Inclusion Criteria: \- Report get numb at dentist

Exclusion criteria

* ADHD, ADD, and other inattention disorders * Known adverse reactions to lidocaine; * Epilepsy * IQ \<80 * Severe head trauma * Birth weight \<2270 grams * Severe autism * Generalized anxiety disorders (but dental-specific anxiety will not be an exclusion because many of these individuals may be ones with anxiety because of painful dental experiences with lidocaine ineffectiveness) * Mouth sores * Ehlers Danlos syndrome * Red hair * Current pregnancy * Treatment currently with potassium or potassium-elevating drugs such as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockers Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors * Alacepril (not available in US) * Benazepril (Lotensin) * Captopril (trade name Capoten) * Cilazapril (Inhibace) * Delapril (not available in US) * Enalapril (Vasotec/Renitec) * Fosinopril (Fositen/Monopril) * Imidapril (Tanatril) * Lisinopril (Listril/Lopril/Novatec/Prinivil/Zestril) * Moexipril (Univasc) * Perindopril (Coversyl/Aceon/Perindo) * Quinapril (Accupril) * Ramipril (Altace/Prilace/Ramace/Ramiwin/Triatec/Tritace) * Spirapril (Renormax) * Temocapril (not available in US) * Teprotide (but not active by oral administration and not used in US) * Trandolapril (Mavik/Odrik/Gopten) * Zofenopril Angiotensin receptor blockers * Azilsartan (Edarbi) * Candesartan (Atacand) * Eprosartan (Teveten) * Fimasartan (Kanarb) * Irbesartan (Avapro) * Losartan (Cozaar) * Olmesartan (Benicar/Olmetec) * Telmisartan (Micardis) * Valsartan (Diovan) Aldosterone antagonists * Spironolactone (Aldactone) * Eplerenone (Inspra) Renin inhibitors - Aliskiren (Tekturna, Rasilez) Other potassium elevating agents * Antibiotics, including penicillin G and trimethoprim * Azole antifungals * Beta-blockers * Herbal supplements, including milkweed, lily of the valley, Siberian ginseng, Hawthorn berries * Heparin * Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) * Oral contraceptives containing drospirenone Arm 2 Eligibility Inclusion Criteria: \- Report trouble getting numb at dentist

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Taste sensation after lidocaine or placebo4 visits each of 30 minutes within weeks of one another, average ~1 month totalThe subject is blinded to the tastant and gel identities. The 3 tastants are tested in randomized order. After application of lidocaine gel or placebo to the tongue, and a wait of 2 minutes, the subject's tongue is rubbed with a swab that has been wet with the tastant on the subject's tongue. The subject is asked to identify the taste (e.g., sweet). Then, on a 5-point scale (0-4, ranging from none to very intense) they are asked to rate the intensity of the taste. The process is repeated for each of the three tastants. The consistency of the subject responses over the 4 sessions will be analyzed.
Ability to feel pressure and discomfort after injection of lidocaine into the cheek1 visit of 30 minutes after other 4 visits, average ~1 month totalInject lidocaine as would be done in a dental visit, assess numbness to pressure and discomfort using the Baker Wong FACES scale (0-10) scale of discomfort, ranging from none to intense pain. The effectiveness of lidocaine will be assessed, and then the results compared to Outcome 1.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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