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Doxepin Alone or Combined With Ramelteon Versus Placebo for Improving Sleep Quality After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

Doxepin Versus Doxepin and Ramelteon Versus Placebo to Improve Sleep Quality After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07598734
Enrollment
129
Registered
2026-05-20
Start date
2026-06-01
Completion date
2028-06-01
Last updated
2026-05-20

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

Conditions

Postoperative Knee Function, Quality of Life After Primary TKA, Sleep Quality Post-TKA

Brief summary

Many patients experience poor sleep during recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Disturbed sleep can last weeks to months and may worsen pain, slow healing, and reduce overall quality of life. Few safe, effective, evidence-based options exist to improve sleep during this recovery period. This study aims to determine whether the medications doxepin, either alone or in combination with ramelteon, can improve sleep quality during early recovery after TKA. The investigators will also evaluate whether improved sleep leads to better pain control, knee function, and overall quality of life.

Detailed description

This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial seeks to answer the following question: Is doxepin or combination therapy consisting of doxepin plus ramelteon superior to placebo in terms of (1) sleep quality as measured by the Insomnia Severity Index, (2) postoperative knee function as measured by KOOS-JR, KOOS-PS, or (3) overall health-related quality of life during the first three months after total knee arthroplasty.

Interventions

DRUGDoxepin 6 mg

Doxepin 6 mg administered orally once nightly for sleep during the first 6 weeks of the postoperative period following total knee arthroplasty

Ramelteon 8 mg administered orally once nightly for sleep during the first 6 weeks of the postoperative period following total knee arthroplasty

DRUGPlacebo Tablets

Placebo administered orally once nightly for sleep during the first 6 weeks of the postoperative period following total knee arthroplasty

Sponsors

University of Washington
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Intervention model description

This is a randomized, double blind (surgeon and patient), placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial comparing two medications against a placebo, enrolling sequential patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty, with outcomes assessed over a 3-month postoperative period to evaluate sleep quality.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Those receiving primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) * 80 years or less, age 18 or greater

Exclusion criteria

* History of cardiovascular bundle branch block * Actively taking selecrtive serotoin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), or having treatment via counseling/psychotherapy for major depression or anxiety, bipolar, or psychotic disorder * Pre-operative narcotics (defined as more than 1 prescription in the past 3 months) * Self-reported use of alcohol in excess of \>2 drinks/day (in men) and \> 1 drink/day (in women) * Use of prescription sleep aids (e.g., Ambien, Trazadone) prior to surgery (i.e., melatonin or other OTC sleep aids are permitted) * History of major sleep disorder (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), restless leg syndrome, narcolepsy) * Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant in the next 3 months post-surgery. No pregnancy testing will be performed; screening will rely solely on participant self-report. * Unable to take the study medication(s) due to contraindications with other medications the patient uses * Have been diagnosed with (or are at risk of) narrow-angle or angle-closure glaucoma. In order to be eligible, participants must be able to report that they have had their eyes dilated within the past year without problems. * Have severe urinary retention or difficulty emptying your bladder. * Had glaucoma-related eye procedures (e.g., laser iridotomy) * Ongoing use of glaucoma eye drops.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores (sleep quality)Baseline; 2 weeks postoperatively; 6 weeks postoperatively; 3 months postoperativelyInsomnia Severity Index (ISI) The Insomnia Severity Index is a 7-item self-reported questionnaire assessing the nature, severity, and impact of insomnia. * Score range: 0 to 28 * Interpretation: Higher scores indicate worse insomnia severity Score categories: * 0-7: No clinically significant insomnia * 8-14: Subthreshold insomnia * 15-21: Clinical insomnia (moderate severity) * 22-28: Clinical insomnia (severe)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS)Baseline; 2 weeks postoperatively; 6 weeks postoperatively; 3 months postoperatively.Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score Physical Function Short Form (KOOS-PS): The KOOS-PS is a 7-item patient-reported outcome measure assessing knee-related physical function, including activities such as rising from bed, putting on socks, rising from sitting, bending to the floor, twisting/pivoting, kneeling, and squatting . Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (None to Extreme). Scores are transformed to a normalized scale ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse physical function (greater disability).
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS-JR)Baseline; 2 weeks postoperatively; 6 weeks postoperatively; 3 months postoperativelyKnee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Joint Replacement (KOOS-JR): The KOOS-JR is a patient-reported outcome measure assessing knee pain, stiffness, and functional limitations during activities of daily living over the past week, including tasks such as twisting/pivoting, stair navigation, standing, rising from sitting, and bending . The instrument consists of 7 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale (None to Extreme). Raw scores (range 0-28) are summed and converted to an interval score ranging from 0 to 100, where 0 represents total knee disability and 100 represents perfect knee health (higher scores indicate better outcomes)
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global-10 (PROMIS-10)Baseline; 2 weeks postoperatively; 6 weeks postoperatively; 3 months postoperativelyPatient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Global-10 (PROMIS-10): The PROMIS-10 is a 10-item patient-reported outcome measure assessing global physical health, mental health, pain, fatigue, and social functioning. Items are scored on 5-point Likert scales (e.g., Excellent to Poor; Not at all to Very much), with one pain item scored from 0 to 10. Raw scores are summed and converted to standardized T-scores for Global Physical Health and Global Mental Health, each ranging approximately from 0 to 100 (mean 50, standard deviation 10), where higher scores indicate better health status

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTGerald Y Liao, MS
liaog@uw.edu617-710-7211
CONTACTNicholas M Hernandez, MD
nichern@uw.edu530-514-1275
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORNicholas M Hernandez, MD

University of Washington

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 21, 2026