N-Acetyl Cysteine and Aspirin as an Adjunctive Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

Completed · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Bipolar Disorder

In brief

We propose to conduct a double-blind placebo-controlled trial with a widely available and prototypical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, aspirin, and an antioxidant agent, NAC, involving symptomatic Bipolar Disorder type I and II patients having a depressive or mixed episode currently. This will be the first controlled study to test the hypothesis that aspirin and NAC, by themselves or in combination, will be beneficial in treating depression in bipolar disorder patients and in promoting mood stabilization. Our study has the following Aims: Aim I - Examine efficacy of aspirin in treating depression in bipolar patients in a double-blind placebo-controlled add-on design; Aim II - Examine efficacy of NAC in treating depression in bipolar patients in a double-blind placebo-controlled add-on design; Aim III - Examine efficacy of combined treatment with aspirin and NAC looking for synergistic, potentiating effects; Aim IV - Examine the role of markers of neuroinflammation, as possible mediators or modulators in therapeutic response in the treatment of depression in patients with Bipolar Disorder.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT01797575
Run by: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
People needed: 38
Starts: 2013-01-01
Expected to finish: 2017-02-01
Last updated by the study team: 2018-04-30

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Age 18 to 65 years
A diagnosis of BD type I or II according to SCID-I interview;
Currently in a depressive or mixed episode, based on DSM-IV/ SCID-I criteria;
MADRAS >20 at entry in the study;
No CURRENT liver, kidney, heart disease or ulcers or bleeding dyscrasia;
No HYSTORY of kidney dysfunction or cardiac problems;
ON therapeutic doses of a mood stabilizing drug (lithium, anticonvulsants, any atypical antipsychotics) or combinations for at least ONE month.
Allowed psychiatric co-morbid conditions, such as anxiety disorders, PTSD and substance use (as long as do NOT meet abuse or dependence criteria according to the SCID-I in the past 2 months).

You may not qualify if…

CANNOT be on any :
Anti-inflammatory: NSAIDs: Aspirin (bufferin, bayer aspirin, ecotrin), diflunisal (dolobid, diflunisal),Salsalate (amigesic, salflex), Ibuprofen (motrin, advil), Naproxen (naprosyn,aleve, midol extended relief), Fenoprofen (nalfon), Ketoprofen (actron), dexketoprofen(ketron D), Flurbiprofen (ansaid), Oxaprozin (daypro), Loxoprofen (loxfen, loxonin), Indomethacin (indocin, indocin SR), Sulindac (clinoril), Etodolac (lodine), Ketorolac (toradol), diclofenac (voltaren, cataflam), Nabumetone (Relafen) Piroxicam (feldene), Meloxicam (mobic), Tenoxicam (mobiflex), Lornoxicam (xefo),mefenamic acid (ponstel), meclofenamic acid (meclofenamate sodium), celecoxib (celebrex) Anticoagulants: Coumadin (Warfarin), Heparin Anti-oxidant agents Fish oil NAC ( N-acetyl cysteine)
Pregnancy
CANNOT change the dose of the psychotropic medications during the trial
Women Able to Become Pregnant: Participation in this study may involve risks to an embryo, fetus, or unborn child. If the subject is a female and able to become pregnant, a urine pregnancy test will be performed which must be negative prior to enrolling into the study, and the subject must agree not to become pregnant during the study. Urine pregnancy tests will be performed at Screening visit and week 8. The study staff will review adequate birth control methods with the subject and will remind her that she should not become pregnant during the study. Appropriate methods of birth control include: hormonal contraceptives (such as birth control pills, patches, and implants), barrier methods (such as a condom and diaphragms and spermicidal foam or jelly, surgical (hysterectomy or tubal ligation) or intrauterine device (IUD). The subject will be instructed to notify the study doctor immediately if there is a chance that she has become pregnant.
Also, if the subject is breast-feeding an infant or plan on breast-feeding an infant, she must notify the study doctor. It is not known if this drug is excreted in human milk; therefore, breast-feeding is not permitted during the study.
Patients can be on any mood stabilizing agents or combinations, as well as on other psychotropic medications at study entry, and the doses of those medications cannot be changed during the trial. They cannot be on any anti-inflammatory or anti-oxidant agents or anticoagulant at the point they are enrolled. If patients decompensate significantly, and/or become acutely suicidal, participation on the trial will be terminated.

Where it is running

UT Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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