Lofexidine for Inpatient Opiate Detox

Completed · Phase 3 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Opiate Addiction

In brief

The main objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of lofexidine in reducing withdrawal symptoms among subjects undergoing opiate detoxification. Currently, lofexidine is the most commonly used non-opiate medication for detoxification from opiates in the United Kingdom (UK). There is no non-opiate medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the same indication in the United States (US). The only medications currently approved by the FDA for opiate detoxification are methadone and buprenorphine. These medications, however, have the potential to be abused. Lofexidine, on the other hand, offers a unique advantage for opiate detoxification because it is not addicting, is easy to use, and has a favorable safety profile.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00235729

Run by

US Department of Veterans Affairs

People needed

264

Starts

2006-06-01

Expected to finish

2007-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2009-03-20

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Potential subjects must:
• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have current dependence, according to SCID criteria, on any opioid with a half-life similar to heroin or morphine, including Vicodin, Lortab, or Lorcet, Percocet, Percodan, Tylox, or Hydrocodone (by any route of administration), or oxycodone (oxycodone and oxycodone time-released formulation when crushed and snorted, injected or swallowed after chewing).
• Be seeking treatment for opiate dependence.
• Have a score greater than or equal to 2 on the Objective Opiate Withdrawal Scale-Handelsman (OOWS) immediately prior to admission.
• Have reported use of heroin, morphine, or any opioid with a half-life similar to heroin or morphine, for at least 21 of the past 30 days.
• Have urine toxicology screen positive for opiates and negative for methadone or buprenorphine.
• If female and of child bearing potential, agree to use of one of the following methods of birth control:
• oral contraceptives
• patch
• barrier (diaphragm, sponge or condom) plus spermicidal preparations
• intrauterine contraceptive system
• levonorgestrel implant
• medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection
• complete abstinence from sexual intercourse
• hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring
• surgical sterilization or partner sterile (must have documented proof)
• Have completed the ASI during screening and all other assessments (SOWS-Gossop OOWS, and MCGI) during the baseline period.
• Be able to verbalize understanding of the consent form, able to provide written informed consent, verbalize willingness to complete study procedures and pass the study consent quiz with 100% accuracy (if necessary, quiz may be administered more than one time).

You may not qualify if…

• Potential subjects must not:
• Be female subjects who are pregnant or lactating.
• Have self-reported use of methadone or buprenorphine in the past 14 days.
• Have serious medical illnesses including, but not limited to:
• Seizures, or those who have received anticonvulsant therapy during the past 5 years.
• Pancreatic disease such as insulin-dependent diabetes.
• Liver disease requiring medication or medical treatment, and/or aspartate or alanine aminotransferase levels greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal.
• Gastrointestinal or renal disease, which would significantly impair absorption, metabolism or excretion of study drug, or would require medication or medical treatment.
• Have a psychiatric disorder, as assessed by the SCID, including but not limited to dementia or any disorder that, in the opinion of the study physician requires ongoing treatment that would make study participation unsafe or which would make treatment compliance difficult.
• Have self-reported AIDS.
• Have an abnormal cardiovascular exam prior to randomization, including any of the following:
• Clinically significant abnormal ECG (e.g., second or third degree heart block, uncontrolled arrhythmia, or QTc interval > 450 msec for males, and > 470 msec for females).
• Heart rate less than 45 bpm or symptomatic bradycardia.
• Systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg or symptomatic hypotension (diastolic blood pressure < 60 mm Hg).
• Blood pressure > 160/100 mm Hg.
• Prior history of myocardial infarction.
• Have clinically significant abnormal laboratory values.
• Require any of the following medications currently or within the past 4 weeks: psychotropics (including sedatives/hypnotics, antidepressants, neuroleptics), prescription analgesics (excluding those listed in inclusion criteria #2 above), anticonvulsants, antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, antiretroviral, and cholesterol lowering medications. Nicotine replacement therapy (patch, inhaler, gum, or nasal spray) for nicotine-dependent subjects are allowed.
• Have current dependence (by SCID criteria) on

Where it is running

• CNS, Cerritos — Cerritos, California, United States
• CNS Psychiatric Institute of Washington — Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
• Atlanta Center for Medical Research — Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• Alexian Center for Psychiatric Research — Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States
• University of Kentucky — Lexington, Kentucky, United States
• VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore — Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• Wayne State University School of Medicine — Detroit, Michigan, United States
• Richmond Medical Center — Staten Island, New York, United States
• VA Medical Center, Philadelphia — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
• VA Medical Center, Providence — Providence, Rhode Island, United States
• Psychiatric Hospital at Vanderbilt — Nashville, Tennessee, United States
• Research Across America — Dallas, Texas, United States
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio — San Antonio, Texas, United States
• VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City — Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
• VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle — Seattle, Washington, United States
• Aurora Psychiatric Hospital — Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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