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Ketamine for Methamphetamine Use Disorder

NIDA CTN-0132 Randomized, Double-Blind, Active Placebo-Controlled Trial of Ketamine for Methamphetamine Use Disorder (KMD)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06496750
Acronym
KMD
Enrollment
120
Registered
2024-07-11
Start date
2024-09-11
Completion date
2026-10-15
Last updated
2026-04-01

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

Conditions

Substance Use Disorders, Substance Use, Methamphetamine Abuse

Brief summary

This study aims to determine whether treatment response with IV ketamine is superior to treatment response with IV midazolam in adults with moderate to severe MUD. The study design is a 12-week randomized, double-blind, controlled trial comparing intravenous (IV) ketamine against IV midazolam, delivered over six weeks in 120 adults with moderate to severe methamphetamine use disorder (MUD).

Detailed description

Effective management for methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) remains elusive, despite widespread misuse of this stimulant. Psychological interventions have demonstrated modest benefits, and relapse rates are high. There are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacotherapies for MUD. This study explores the efficacy, safety, and feasibility for intravenous (IV) ketamine as a treatment for MUD and will help to determine the effect size for a larger, multi-site trial of intravenous (IV) ketamine in MUD. Participants will receive either IV ketamine (0.50mg/kg) or IV midazolam (0.02mg/kg) over 45 minutes per infusion for a total of eight (8) infusions over six (6) weeks. Medical management sessions with a study clinician will be provided to all participants once weekly (from Weeks 1 through 6). The use of IV ketamine in this trial is consistent in dose (0.5 mg/kg) and duration of infusion (45-minute-long) to other studies of ketamine for psychiatric disorders (such as major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, both of which are often comorbid in individuals with MUD) and substance use disorder. However, IV ketamine has not been directly evaluated as mono-pharmacotherapy in those with MUD yet. Additionally, participants will be asked to participate in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions once weekly (from Weeks 1 through 12) on a non-infusion day.

Interventions

DRUGKetamine Hydrochloride

Participants will receive IV ketamine (0.50mg/kg) dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride in a total volume of 100mL and administered with an infusion pump over 45 minutes. Duration of each infusion may be extended by the Study Clinician supervising study medication infusion if slower infusion rate is better tolerated.

Participants will receive IV midazolam (0.02mg/kg) dissolved in 0.9% sodium chloride in a total volume of 100mL and administered with an infusion pump over 45 minutes. Duration of each infusion may be extended by the Study Clinician supervising study medication infusion if slower infusion rate is better tolerated.

Sponsors

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

Study participants must: 1. Be 18 to 65 years old 2. Be able to sufficiently understand, speak, and read English 3. Be interested in reducing or stopping methamphetamine use 4. Meet criteria for methamphetamine use disorder 5. Use acceptable methods of contraception during participation in the study

Exclusion criteria

Study participants must not: 1. Have been in a research study of pharmacological or behavioral treatment for addiction within 6 months prior to written informed consent 2. Be currently in jail, prison, or inpatient overnight facility as required by court of law 3. Have upcoming surgery planned or scheduled 4. Be currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning on conception, if biologically female Additional inclusion and

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Treatment Response2 weeksDefined as having at least three methamphetamine-negative urine samples out of four samples obtained during Weeks 3 and 4.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Non-serious adverse outcomes associated with IV ketamine treatment for methamphetamine use6 weeksDefined by non-serious adverse events (associated with the IV ketamine treatment) reported during the study intervention phase (weeks 1 to 6). Participants will be assessed for adverse events at each study visit.
Adherence to treatment6 weeksDefined by completion of at least five out of eight IV ketamine or IV midazolam infusions.
Total abstinence2 weeksDefined as four out of four methamphetamine-negative urine samples obtained during Weeks 3 and 4 (since missing urine drug screens will be counted as positive).
Abstinence from methamphetamine use12 weeksDefined by the self-reported days of methamphetamine use as reported on the Timeline Followback (TLFB) from Week 1 to Week 4, Week 5 to Week 6, and Week 7 to Week 12.
Differences in methamphetamine-negative urine samples from Weeks 1 to 6 and between ketamine and midazolam arms.6 weeksUrine samples will be collected twice a week at in-person visits.
Differences in methamphetamine-negative urine samples from Weeks 1 and 2 versus Weeks 3 and 4.4 weeksUrine samples will be collected twice a week at in-person visits.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTAngela Casey-Willingham
Angela.Casey-Willingham@UTSouthwestern.edu214-648-4689
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMadhukar Trivedi, MD

Professor (Tenured)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 2, 2026