Pioglitazone as an Adjunct to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Cocaine Relapse Prevention

Completed · Phase 2 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Cocaine Use Disorder

In brief

The purpose of this study is to see how well pioglitazone, when used with cognitive behavioral therapy, works at helping people who have recently stopped using cocaine to continue to not use cocaine.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04843046

Run by

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

People needed

61

Starts

2021-08-23

Expected to finish

2025-10-15

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-01

Who can join

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

You may qualify if…

• 18 to 65 years old
• meet DSM 5 diagnostic criteria for cocaine use disorder
• report recent cocaine use, verified by at least one positive urine drug screen for the cocaine metabolite, benzoylecgonine, during intake
• be judged by the medical staff to be psychiatrically stable and physically healthy
• for females, be using an effective form of birth control (e.g., barrier, IUD, or sterilization) and not be pregnant as determined by a serum pregnancy test at screening and negative urine pregnancy test at intake prior to first dose of investigational drug (test will be repeated weekly to ensure that female patients do not continue in the study if pregnant) or lactating
• be willing to be admitted to a 5-day inpatient detoxification program at The Right Step Houston
• be able to understand the consent form and provide written informed consent
• be able to provide the names of at least 2 persons who can consistently locate their whereabouts

You may not qualify if…

• have an acute medical or psychiatric disorder that would, in the judgment of the study physician, make participation difficult or unsafe
• have suicidal or homicidal ideation that requires immediate attention
• have another current (≥ moderate) substance use disorder aside from alcohol, nicotine, or marijuana
• have a medical condition contraindicating PIO pharmacotherapy (e.g., drug- or insulin-dependent diabetes, congestive heart failure, edema, clinical significant liver disease, hypoglycemia, history of bladder cancer) or be taking medications that would adversely interact with PIO (e.g., CYP2C8 inhibitors or inducers, antihyperglycemic medications)
• be concurrently enrolled in other addiction treatment services aside from smoking cessation
• if female, be currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning on conception
• have conditions of probation or parole requiring reports of drug use to officers of the court
• be unable to read, write, or speak English
• be homeless (live on the street)
• have medical contraindications to MRI/DTI scans (e.g., history of pacemaker, metal implants, or welding/metal work without protective eyewear)

Where it is running

• UTHealth Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction — Houston, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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