Erythromycin in Parkinson's Disease

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Parkinson's Disease, Levodopa

In brief

Gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying) is a common feature of Parkinson's Disease. Levodopa (Sinemet), a common medication for Parkinson's Disease, can make gastroparesis worse. Gastroparesis effects how the levodopa is absorbed and used by the body. This study will explore the possibility of using Erythromycin, a drug commonly used (off label) for gastroparesis, along with levodopa to determine if there is improved levodopa absorption and motor function.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02005029

Run by

Virginia Commonwealth University

People needed

18

Starts

2013-04-01

Expected to finish

2015-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-02-03

Who can join

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

You may qualify if…

• Subjects must have a definitive diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (per United Kingdom brain bank criteria), Hoehn and Yahr stage 1-3,
• must exhibit unequivocal levodopa responsiveness
• must be able to distinguish between the "off" versus "on" state
• Subjects must be on a stable dose of levodopa for at least 28 days prior to enrollment and should be anticipated to maintain a stable dose throughout both study periods
• Subjects may be on concomitant therapy with Monoamine oxidase B inhibitors, entacapone, and amantadine, though the doses of these medications must have remained stable for at least 28 days prior to enrollment and must be expected to remain stable throughout both study periods.

You may not qualify if…

• History of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson Disease
• History of ablative (tissue removal) surgery for Parkinson Disease
• Presence of dementia (MMSE<25)
• Presence of active psychosis
• History of any chronic gastrointestinal diseases
• History of any prior gastrointestinal surgeries except for appendectomy, cholecystectomy, and hysterectomy
• Any gastrointestinal surgeries in the past 3 months
• Severe dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) to pills or food
• History of physiological or mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction
• History of strictures or fistulae (abnormal or narrow connections) along the gastrointestinal tract
• History of gastric bezoars (undigested mass)
• Allergy to wheat, soy, milk, or nuts
• Presence of portable electromechanical devices such as pacemaker, defibrillator, or infusion pump
• Female subjects who are pregnant or lactating
• Symptomatic orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Diabetes
• Presence of symptomatic anemia
• Abnormal liver or kidney function
• Cardiac arrhythmia (past or present) or abnormal QT interval on entrance EKG
• Known hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs
• Subjects receiving certain medications during specified time frames

Where it is running

• Virginia Commonwealth University Parkinson's Center — Richmond, Virginia, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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