Ghrelin for Alcohol Use in Non-Treatment-Seeking Heavy Drinkers

Completed · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: fMRI, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholism

In brief

Background: \- Ghrelin is a hormone in the human body that is mostly produced by the stomach. It makes people feel hungry, and also is connected with the desire to drink alcohol. Researchers want to test ghrelin to see if it can be used to control alcohol cravings and use. They will compare doses of ghrelin with a placebo in people who drink heavily. Objectives: \- To study the effects of ghrelin on alcohol craving and use. Eligibility: * Individuals between 21 and 60 years of age who are heavy drinkers but are not seeking treatment for alcohol use. * Participants must on average have more than 20 drinks per week for men, and more than 15 drinks per week for women. Design: * Participants will have a screening visit, four 2-night study visits, and a follow-up visit. * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. They will provide urine and breath samples for drug testing. They will also answer questions about mood and physical symptoms, and about alcohol and other cravings. * At the study visits, participants will stay overnight at the National Institutes of Health clinical center. They will spend the night at the center, have tests on the next day, and go home on the following morning. At each visit, participants will receive a ghrelin or placebo infusion, and will complete a series of tasks. * For the first and second study visits, participants will have tests of alcohol craving and use. They will be able to receive alcohol infusions through a computer program that tests response time and craving reactions. At the same time, they will have a ghrelin or a placebo infusion. Blood alcohol levels, reaction time, and craving will be studied. * For the third and fourth study visits, participants will have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. They will have an initial MRI to provide a picture of the brain. They will then have a functional MRI during which they will respond to a computer test. The test will allow them to win points for snack food or alcohol. This test will look at the brain s response time and craving reactions. * There will be a follow-up visit 1 week after the fourth study visit. Some of the tests from the screening visit will be repeated.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01779024

Run by

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

People needed

17

Starts

2012-12-13

Expected to finish

2017-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2018-08-03

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may not qualify if…

• Current or prior history of any clinically significant disease, including CNS, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, endocrine, or reproductive disorders.
• Specific exclusion criteria related to the administration of ghrelin, are chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., Crohn s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease) diabetes, obesity (BMI greater than or equal 30 kg/m(2), weight greater than or equal to 120 Kg, high triglycerides level (> 350 mg/dL), history of clinically significant hypotension (e.g.: history of fainting and/or syncopal attacks) and/or resting systolic BP < 100 mmHg.
• Positive hepatitis or HIV test at screening.
• Current clinically significant major depression or anxiety; or prior clinically significant psychiatric problems, including eating disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder.
• Current diagnosis of substance dependence (other than alcohol or nicotine).
• Currently seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder.
• History of significant withdrawal symptoms or presence of clinically significant withdrawal symptoms (Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) score > 8) at screening.
• Non-drinkers (alcohol-naive individuals or current abstainers) or no experience drinking 5 or more drinks on one occasion.
• Unable to provide a negative urine drug screen.
• Pregnancy or intention to become pregnant for women. Female participants will undergo a urine beta-hCG test to ensure they are not pregnant.
• Use of prescription or OTC medications known to interact with alcohol within 2 weeks of the study. These include, but may not be limited to: isosorbide, nitroglycerine, benzodiazepines, warfarin, anti-depressants such as amitriptyline, clomipramine and nefazodone, anti-diabetes medications such as glyburide, metformin and tolbutamide, H2-antagonists for heartburn such as cimetidine and ranitidine, muscle relaxants, anti-epileptics including phenytoin and Phenobarbital codeine, and narcotics including darvocet, percocet and hydrocodone. Drugs known to inhibit or induce enzymes that metabolize alcohol should not be used for 4 weeks prior to the study. These include chlorzoxazone, isoniazid, metronidazole and disulfiram. Cough-and-cold preparations, which contain antihistamines, pain medicines and anti-inflammatories such as aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, celecoxib and naproxen, should be withheld for at least 72 hours prior to each study session.
• Current or prior history of alcohol-induced flushing reactions.
• Contraindications for MRI scanning, including metal in body that are contraindicated for MRI (such as implants, pacemaker, prostheses, shrapnel, irremovable piercings), left-handedness, and claustrophobia.

Where it is running

• National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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