Bupropion for Fatigue in End-stage Kidney Disease Patients on Hemodialysis
Starting soon · Phase 1/Phase 2
Conditions studied: End Stage Renal Disease, Fatigue
In brief
Fatigue is the most common symptom reported by end-stage kidney disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Unfortunately, there currently is no medical management for this overwhelming feeling of tiredness. As a result, patients continue to suffer with poor quality of life and impaired daily activities. The purpose of this pilot trial is to find out if bupropion (a medicine commonly prescribed for stopping smoking, seasonal mood disorder, and depression) may help lessen fatigue in hemodialysis patients. In this study, hemodialysis participants will receive bupropion tablet orally three times a week during routine dialysis procedure for consecutive 8 weeks. Study participants will complete a battery of questionnaires to self-report fatigue, cognition, and quality of life. The study team will collect biological specimens. All these procedures will be performed at the dialysis clinic during routine dialysis procedure.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT06609343
- Run by
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- People needed
- 16
- Starts
- 2026-06-01
- Expected to finish
- 2027-01-30
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-03-12
Who can join
Age: 25 and older, up to 74. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Male and female ESKD patients between aged 25-74 yrs on maintenance in-center hemodialysis procedure 3 times/week for ≥3 months with an arteriovenous fistula or graft.
- Blood hemoglobin of ≥10.0 g/dL based on most recent routine laboratory profile.
- Dialysis adequacy measured with Kt/V of ≥1.2
- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
You may not qualify if…
- Currently on bupropion or hypersensitivity/ intolerance to bupropion by history and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
- Diagnosis or history of eating disorders (bulimia or anorexia nervosa) and seizure.
- Pregnant, lactating, childbearing women
- History of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome
- Diagnosis of depression and/or on antidepressants and bipolar affective disorder
- Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 score of ≥10
- Diagnosis of cognitive impairment including dementia
- Current participation in another interventional trial
- Scheduled for kidney transplantation in next 6 months
- Life expectancy <6 months as judged by the attending nephrologist/primary care physician.
- Current or history of substance abuse or dependency.
Where it is running
- University Hospital Dialysis Medical Center (DMC) — San Antonio, Texas, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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