Memantine for Post-Operative Pain Control

Status unconfirmed · Phase 4 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Pain, Post-operative

In brief

Pain is a common element of surgery. Opiates (morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, methadone, fentanyl) are very helpful in decreasing pain after surgery. Unfortunately, with repeated use opiates lose their effectiveness, such that patients need to utilize more opiates to achieve adequate pain relief - a phenomenon called tolerance. Sometimes tolerance to a pain reliever's effects can develop in just a few hours. It is thought that activation of the N-methyl d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a "switch" found on the surface of nerves, is partially responsible for opiate tolerance. Memantine is a medication that limits the activity of NMDA receptors in the brain and spinal cord. It has been used for years to help patients with Alzheimer's Disease. In this study, we will study the effects of memantine when combined with opiate medications to see whether it can increase the effectiveness of opiates for pain after surgery and reduce the side effects caused by opiates (e.g., sedation, nausea, itching).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01041313

Run by

University of Washington

People needed

120

Starts

2010-01-01

Expected to finish

2011-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2010-06-29

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Surgery for total hip replacement, knee replacement OR lumbar spinal fusion
• Taking no opiate medication OR taking opiate medication for at least 6 weeks

You may not qualify if…

• History of alcohol or drug abuse
• Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease
• Prior adverse reaction to memantine
• Severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 ml/min)
• Inability to give informed consent

Where it is running

• University of Washington Medical Center — Seattle, Washington, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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