Pharmacogenetic Trial of Doxazosin for Treatment of Cocaine Abuse

Completed · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Cocaine Dependence

In brief

Cocaine use disorders affect approximately 1.5 million Americans annually. Currently, there are no US Food and Drug Administration approved medications for treatment of cocaine dependence; however, both animal and human studies suggest that medications affecting the noradrenergic system can reduce cocaine craving and use. The investigators will study the effect of doxazosin, an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist, in reducing cocaine use and anxiety symptoms among cocaine-dependent individuals. In addition, the investigators will identify genetic subpopulations of participants who preferentially respond to the medication.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01953432

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

43

Starts

2014-04-01

Expected to finish

2017-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2020-02-20

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 64. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Signed informed consent form and HIPAA authorization form
• Subject is cooperative, understands the risks and benefits, and is willing and able to adhere to study requirements
• Any race or ethnic origin
• Diagnosis of cocaine-dependence according to DSM-IV criteria
• Between the ages of 18 and 64
• Must be current users of cocaine with self-reported use of cocaine within the last 90 days, or at least one cocaine-positive urine during screening.
• Women of childbearing age are eligible to be included in the study if they have a negative pregnancy test at screening, agree to adequate contraception to prevent pregnancy, to have monthly pregnancy tests, and they understand the risk of fetal toxicity due to medication.
• Must be in good general health as determined by self-report and/or CPRS-based medical history, general clinical examination conducted by a study physician, and lab tests. HIV testing will be recommended but is not required for participation in this study.
• Motivated to discontinue or reduce cocaine use during the period of the study, as evidenced both by the judgment of the Investigator or designee and by the subject's compliance level with the requirement for attendance at clinic visits, such that weekly urine sample requirements for inclusion criteria are fully met.

You may not qualify if…

• Current diagnosis of other drug dependence, especially alcohol or benzodiazepine dependence, or abuse (other than cocaine, tobacco, or cannabis)
• Significant medical conditions (e.g., major cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, hepatic disorders) such as abnormal liver function (with laboratory findings of SGOT or SGPT greater than three times normal), hypotension, a current cardiac condition that in the opinion of the investigator would contraindicate Doxasozin treatment, and those having a high risk of cardiovascular disease, seizure disorders, or another significant underlying medical condition which would contraindicate Doxazosin treatment
• Lifetime schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychotic disorders (excluding substance-induced psychotic disorders)
• Actively considering plans of suicidality or homicidality
• Women planning to become pregnant or breastfeed during the study, refusal to use a reliable form of birth control, or refusal of monthly pregnancy testing
• Subjects who are prescribed certain anti-hypertension drugs (i.e. doxasozin) will be excluded because these medications may interact with Doxazosin's brain effects in reducing cocaine abuse
• Subject has participated in another clinical trial or received any other investigational compound within 7 days prior to being randomized into this study

Where it is running

• Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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