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Alcohol DependenceNCT00635102

Glycine and Oral D-Cycloserine in Alcoholic Patients and Healthy Subjects

A study testing D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV in people with Alcohol Dependence, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Question #1: Will glycine ameliorate cognitive deficits? Hypothesis #1: Based on positive findings conducted with glycine and milacemide, a glycine prodrug, in schizophrenia and dementia, we expect that glycine will ameliorate cognitive deficits. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 to 70 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Alcohol Dependence
What is being tested?
D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
57 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Oct 1997to Feb 2008
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 21 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male or female (post-menopausal, surgically sterile, or negative pregnancy test at screening and agreement to utilize an established birth control during the testing period) between the age of 21 and 70 yrs.
  • Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) IV criteria for alcohol dependence by structured clinical interview
  • Meet von Knorring criteria for early onset (type II) alcoholism
  • Without other DSM IV Axis I diagnoses by Structured Clinical Interview (SCID).
  • Without lifetime history of other substance abuse diagnosis by SCID (excluding tobacco) and urine toxicology screen negative for drug of abuse.
  • Medically and neurologically healthy on the basis of history, physical examination, sequential multiple analysis-computer (SMAC-20), complete blood count (CBC) w/diff. and EKG. In light of the proximity to alcohol dependence, liver function test (LFT) elevations of twice normal will be accepted into the study.
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  • Patients with stable medical problems may be included in the study if their medications have not been adjusted in the month prior to participation and if these medications lack prominent central nervous system (CNS) effects.
  • Absence of alcohol within the past 15 days.
  • Patients must be free of medications utilized to facilitate detoxification (lorazepam, oxazepam) for at least 3 days prior to initiating testing.
  • Patients must have no history of alcoholic hallucinosis.
  • Patients must not be in acute alcohol withdrawal as evidence by a score no more than 2 for each item of the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment Scale
  • Patients taking ethionamide or isoniazid will be not be allowed to participate in the study.
  • Male or female (post-menopausal, surgically sterile, or negative pregnancy test at screening and agreement to utilize an established birth control during the testing period) between the age of 21 and 70 yrs.
  • Absence of a lifetime substance abuse diagnosis by the non-patient version of the SCID.
  • Medically and neurologically healthy on the basis of history, physical examination, SMAC-20, CBC w/diff. and EKG. In light of the proximity to alcohol dependence, LFT elevations of twice normal will be accepted into the study.
  • Absence of alcohol within the past 14 days
  • Healthy subjects will be matched to the patient group for age, sex and educational level.

Who cannot join

None listed.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • VA Connecticut Healthcare System

    West Haven, Connecticut, 06516

Other trials in United States

About this study

Question #1: Will glycine ameliorate cognitive deficits? Hypothesis #1: Based on positive findings conducted with glycine and milacemide, a glycine prodrug, in schizophrenia and dementia, we expect that glycine will ameliorate cognitive deficits.

Question #2: Will alcoholic patients show enhanced endocrinal effects to glycine? Hypothesis #2: Based on the dose-related effects of glycine in healthy subjects, we expect that glycine will increase the endocrinal response to glycine in alcoholic patients with, supposedly, dysregulated NMDA receptor function.

Read more

Question #3: Will D-cycloserine have ethanol-like effects? Hypothesis #3: If inhibition of NMDA receptor function is fundamental to the subjective effects of ethanol, then the NMDA antagonist properties of D-cycloserine should be recognized as ethanol-like (relative to placebo) in recently detoxified alcoholics and healthy subjects.

Question #4: Will D-cycloserine reverse cognitive benefits of glycine? Hypothesis 4: Based on the dose related NMDA antagonist activity of D-cycloserine, we expect that D-cycloserine will compete with the agonist activity of glycine and therefore it will reverse the cognitive benefits of glycine.

Question #5: Will D-cycloserine inhibit endocrinal effects of glycine? Hypothesis #5: If the agonist activity of glycine is necessary to determine endocrine response, then the dose-related NMDA antagonist properties of D-cycloserine should block these effects.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of this study is to investigate the interaction between glycine and D-cycloserine in alcoholic patients and healthy subjects. Preclinical studies have shown that compounds acting at the glycine site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex, such as glycine, may reverse the effects of ethanol on the NMDA receptor function (Rabe et al., 1990). The amino acid glycine is a co-agonist of the NMDA receptor complex (Kemp et al., 1993). It binds to the strychnine-insensitive site and positively modulates the NMDA receptor (Mc Donald et al., 1990). Physiologically, the glycine site is not saturated, and administration of glycine can potentiate NMDA receptor mediated responses. In contrast, D-cycloserine (Hood et al., 1989) is a partial-agonist at the glycine site of the NMDA receptor, with dose-dependent NMDA antagonist properties. The NMDA antagonist activity of D-cycloserine should produce ethanol like-effects that can be reversed by the agonist glycine. This study is intended to evaluate possible contributions of the glycine site to the reduction of cognitive deficits of alcoholism and complements the current work at VA Connecticut Healthcare System on the NMDA antagonists in alcoholic and healthy subjects.

Being tested
D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV, Placebo D-Cycloserine PO and placebo Glycine IV, Placebo D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV, D-Cycloserine PO and placebo Glycine IV
Keywords
Alcohol Dependence, Alcoholism, Glycine, D-Cycloserine
Medical subject headings
Alcoholism

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IVDrug

    Also called Glycine infusion, Cycloserine

    Test days will involve administration of D-Cycloserine in the morning in pill form then 4 hours later a 30 minute infusion of Glycine.

  • Placebo D-Cycloserine PO and placebo Glycine IVDrug

    Also called placebo

    Placebo

  • Placebo D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IVDrug

  • D-Cycloserine PO and placebo Glycine IVDrug

Study groups in NCT00635102
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Alcohol dependentActive comparatorAlcohol dependent patients will receive 4 interventions
Receives: Drug: D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV; Drug: Placebo D-Cycloserine PO and placebo Glycine IV; Drug: Placebo D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV; Drug: D-Cycloserine PO and placebo Glycine IV
Healthy subjectsActive comparatorHealthy subjects will receive 4 interventions
Receives: Drug: D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV; Drug: Placebo D-Cycloserine PO and placebo Glycine IV; Drug: Placebo D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV; Drug: D-Cycloserine PO and placebo Glycine IV

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - Baseline

    Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol data using the Likert scale (0 Not at all similar to alcohol -7 Extremely similar to alcohol) evaluating the similarity of drug effects to alcohol

    Measured: Baseline

  2. Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol 60 Minutes Prior to Glycine Infusion

    Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol data using the Likert scale (0 Not at all similar to alcohol -7 Extremely similar to alcohol) evaluating the similarity of drug effects to alcohol

    Measured: 60 minutes prior to Glycine infusion

  3. Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol 30 Minutes

    Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol data using the Likert scale (0 Not at all similar to alcohol -7 Extremely similar to alcohol) evaluating the similarity of drug effects to alcohol

    Measured: 30 minutes

  4. Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol 60 Minutes

    Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol data using the Likert scale (0 Not at all similar to alcohol -7 Extremely similar to alcohol) evaluating the similarity of drug effects to alcohol

    Measured: 60 minutes

  5. Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol 120 Minutes

    Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol data using the Likert scale (0 Not at all similar to alcohol -7 Extremely similar to alcohol) evaluating the similarity of drug effects to alcohol

    Measured: 120 minutes

Secondary outcomes (40)
  1. Number of Drinks Felt Consumed at 60 Minutes Prior to Glycine Infusion

    The Number of Drinks Scale asks subjects to report on the number of alcoholic drinks they felt they had consumed.

    Measured: 60 minutes prior to Glycine infusion

  2. Number of Drinks Felt Consumed at 30 Minutes

    The Number of Drinks Scale asks subjects to report on the number of alcoholic drinks they felt they had consumed.

    Measured: 30 minutes

  3. Number of Drinks Felt Consumed at 60 Minutes

    The Number of Drinks Scale asks subjects to report on the number of alcoholic drinks they felt they had consumed.

    Measured: 60 minutes

  4. Number of Drinks Felt Consumed at 120 Minutes

    The Number of Drinks Scale asks subjects to report on the number of alcoholic drinks they felt they had consumed.

    Measured: 120 minutes

  5. Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) Subscale Sedation - Baseline

    Self-report rating scale used to measure the sedative effects (0 not at all sedated - 70 extremely sedated) of alcohol

    Measured: Baseline

  6. Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) - Subscale Sedation 60 Minutes Prior to Glycine Infusion

    Self-report rating scale used to measure the sedative effects (0 not at all sedated - 70 extremely sedated) of alcohol

    Measured: 60 minutes prior to Glycine infusion

  7. Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) Subscale Sedation - 30 Minutes

    Self-report rating scale used to measure the sedative effects (0 not at all sedated - 70 extremely sedated) of alcohol

    Measured: 30 minutes

  8. Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) Subscale Sedation - 60 Minutes

    Self-report rating scale used to measure the sedative effects (0 not at all sedated - 70 extremely sedated) of alcohol

    Measured: 60 minutes

  9. Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) Subscale Sedation - 120 Minutes

    Self-report rating scale used to measure the sedative effects (0 not at all sedated - 70 extremely sedated) of alcohol

    Measured: 120 minutes

  10. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) - Baseline

    Visual Analog Scales (VAS): Self-report rating scale used to measure high (0 not at all - 7 extremely)

    Measured: Baseline

  11. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) - 60 Minutes Prior to Glycine Infusion

    Visual Analog Scales (VAS): Self-report rating scale used to measure high (0 not at all - 7 extremely)

    Measured: 60 minutes prior to Glycine infusion

  12. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) - 30 Minutes

    Visual Analog Scales (VAS): Self-report rating scale used to measure high (0 not at all - 7 extremely)

    Measured: 30 minutes

  13. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) - 60 Minutes

    Visual Analog Scales (VAS): Self-report rating scale used to measure high (0 not at all - 7 extremely)

    Measured: 60 minutes

  14. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) - 120 Minutes

    Visual Analog Scales (VAS): Self-report rating scale used to measure high (0 not at all - 7 extremely)

    Measured: 120 minutes

  15. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to Drink- Baseline

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to drink: Self-report rating scale used to measure desire to drink alcohol (0 No desire to drink alcohol - 100 Definitely desire to drink alcohol)

    Measured: Baseline

  16. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to Drink - 60 Minutes Prior to Glycine Infusion

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to drink: Self-report rating scale used to measure desire to drink alcohol (0 No desire to drink alcohol - 100 Definitely desire to drink alcohol)

    Measured: 60 minutes prior to Glycine infusion

  17. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to Drink: - 30 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to drink: Self-report rating scale used to measure desire to drink alcohol (0 No desire to drink alcohol - 100 Definitely desire to drink alcohol)

    Measured: 30 minutes

  18. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to Drink - 60 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to drink: Self-report rating scale used to measure desire to drink alcohol (0 No desire to drink alcohol - 100 Definitely desire to drink alcohol)

    Measured: 60 minutes

  19. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to Drink - 120 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Desire to drink: Self-report rating scale used to measure desire to drink alcohol (0 No desire to drink alcohol - 100 Definitely desire to drink alcohol)

    Measured: 120 minutes

  20. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood Improvement - Baseline

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood improvement : Self-report rating scale used to measure expected alcohol-related mood improvement (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: Baseline

  21. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood Improvement - 60 Minutes Prior to Glycine Infusion

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood improvement : Self-report rating scale used to measure expected alcohol-related mood improvement (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 60 minutes prior to Glycine infusion

  22. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood Improvement - 30 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood improvement : Self-report rating scale used to measure expected alcohol-related mood improvement (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 30 minutes

  23. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood Improvement - 60 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood improvement : Self-report rating scale used to measure expected alcohol-related mood improvement (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 60 minutes

  24. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood Improvement - 120 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Mood improvement : Self-report rating scale used to measure expected alcohol-related mood improvement (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 120 minutes

  25. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort - Baseline

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort: Self-report rating scale - subscale reflecting expected alcohol-related relief from discomfort (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: Baseline

  26. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort - 60 Minutes Prior to Glycine Infusion

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort: Self-report rating scale - subscale reflecting expected alcohol-related relief from discomfort (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 60 minutes prior to Glycine infusion

  27. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort - 30 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort: Self-report rating scale - subscale reflecting expected alcohol-related relief from discomfort (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 30 minutes

  28. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort - 60 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort: Self-report rating scale - subscale reflecting expected alcohol-related relief from discomfort (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 60 minutes

  29. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort - 120 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Discomfort: Self-report rating scale - subscale reflecting expected alcohol-related relief from discomfort (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 120 minutes

  30. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Reduced Control of Alcohol Use - Baseline

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Self-report rating scale used to measure reduced control of alcohol (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: Baseline

  31. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Reduced Control of Alcohol Use - 60 Minutes Prior to Glycine Infusion

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Self-report rating scale used to measure reduced control of alcohol (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 60 minutes prior to Glycine infusion

  32. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Reduced Control of Alcohol Use - 30 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Self-report rating scale used to measure reduced control of alcohol (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 30 minutes

  33. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Reduced Control of Alcohol Use - 60 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Self-report rating scale used to measure reduced control of alcohol (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 60 minutes

  34. Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Reduced Control of Alcohol Use - 120 Minutes

    Alcohol Craving Scale (ACS) Subscale: Self-report rating scale used to measure reduced control of alcohol (0 Not at all - 100 Definitely)

    Measured: 120 minutes

  35. Continuous Performance Task (CPT) - Distractibility A-Prime - 30 Minutes

    gordon diagnostic system is a continuous performance task (CPT) to measure distractibility - (A-Prime score range 0 minimum - 1 maximum - the higher number the better the performance)

    Measured: 30 minutes

  36. Continuous Performance Task (CPT) - Vigilance - A-Prime Score 30 Minutes

    gordon diagnostic system is a continuous performance task (CPT) to measure Vigilance - (A-Prime score range 0 minimum - 1 maximum - The higher number the better the performance)

    Measured: 30 minutes

  37. Hopkins Verbal Learning Task - Immediate Recall - 60 Minutes - Trial 1

    Hopkins Verbal Learning Task (HVLT) - measures verbal memory and hippocampus function. (Three immediate recall trials) (0 No words recalled - 12 all words recalled)

    Measured: 60 minutes - Trial 1

  38. Hopkins Verbal Learning Task - Immediate Recall - 60 Minutes - Trial 2

    Hopkins Verbal Learning Task (HVLT) - measures verbal memory and hippocampus function. (Three immediate recall trials) (0 No words recalled - 12 all words recalled)

    Measured: 60 minutes - Trial 2

  39. Hopkins Verbal Learning Task - Immediate Recall - 60 Minutes - Trial 3

    Hopkins Verbal Learning Task (HVLT) - measures verbal memory and hippocampus function. (Three immediate recall trials) (0 No words recalled - 12 all words recalled)

    Measured: 60 minutes - Trial 3

  40. Hopkins Verbal Learning Task - Delay Recall - 90 Minutes

    Hopkins Verbal Learning Task (HVLT) - measures verbal memory and hippocampus function. (delay recall - 30 minutes after Trials 1-3 were given) (0 No words recalled - 12 all words recalled)

    Measured: 90 minutes

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Mar 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 1997
  3. Primary completionFeb 2008
  4. Study completionFeb 2008

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
57 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00635102
Sponsor's protocol ID
12449
Other IDs
VA Merit Grant
Status last verified
Dec 2016
First submitted
6 Mar 2008
Last updated
16 Dec 2016
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Krystal JH, Petrakis IL, Limoncelli D, Nappi SK, Trevisan L, Pittman B, D'Souza DC, Suckow RF. Characterization of the interactive effects of glycine and D-cycloserine in men: further evidence for enhanced NMDA receptor function associated with human alcohol dependence. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011 Feb;36(3):701-10. doi: 10.1038/npp.2010.203. Epub 2010 Dec 1.

    PubMed 21124304

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing D-Cycloserine PO and Glycine IV in people with Alcohol Dependence, run by Yale University at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 17 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 Dec 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 16 Dec 2016). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Visual Analog Scales of Similarity to Alcohol - Baseline (time frame: Baseline). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00635102, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 Dec 2016.

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