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Cocaine DependencePhase 2/3COSTNCT01468012

Imaging the Neurobiology of Behavioral and Medication Treatment for Cocaine Dependence

A Phase 2/3 study testing levodopa carbidopa and entacapone (LCE) in people with Cocaine Dependence, run by New York State Psychiatric Institute 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

The proposed study will look at cocaine dependent individuals and will consist of three consecutive phases: 1) the 2-week outpatient lead-in phase during which behavioral therapy will be administered; 2) the 15-21 day inpatient phase (during which participants will start study medication of levodopa,carbidopa and… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 to 50 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Cocaine Dependence
What is being tested?
levodopa carbidopa and entacapone (LCE)
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
23 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jul 2014to Dec 2015
Phase
Phase 2/3
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 50 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adult, age 21-50.
  • Meets DSM-IV criteria for current cocaine dependence, supported by a positive urine for cocaine metabolites
  • Voluntarily seeking treatment for cocaine dependence
  • Absence of other medical or psychiatric disorders that are unstable and would interfere with participation.
  • Absence of any suspicious skin changes, suggestive of melanoma, during the full body exam
  • Able to give informed consent.
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  • Adult, age 21-50.
  • No current DSM-IV psychiatric or substance use disorders
  • Absence of other medical disorders that are unstable and would interfere with participation.
  • Able to give informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Current DSM-IV criteria of other substance use disorders with the exception of nicotine dependence, and mild to moderate alcohol or cannabis abuse or dependence. Alcohol or cannabis abuse or dependence may be included provided that cocaine is the predominant problem, and medical detoxification is not indicated; alcohol and cannabis use are common among cocaine dependent patients and their categorical exclusion would impede recruitment and result in a sample of limited generalizability; secondary analyses will explore whether they exert any moderating effects on the main findings.
  • Active psychiatric disorder which might interfere with participation or make participation hazardous, including DSM-IV organic mental disorder, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, recurrent severe MDD, OCD, or eating disorder. Participants with depressive disorder (provided that the score on the Hamilton Depression Scale is less than 20) and those with ADHD symptoms may be included, since these are common, often reflect effects of chronic drug use, and may improve with behavioral treatment and cessation or reduction of drug use.
  • Unstable medical disorders, or medical disorders that might interfere with study participation, including seizure disorder.
  • Significant current suicidal risk or 1 or more suicide attempts within the past year
  • Concurrent treatment with psychotropic medications
  • Positive serum pregnancy test, lactation, or unwillingness to use a satisfactory method of birth control
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  • Baseline systolic BP of > 140 and < 100, diastolic BP > 90 and < 60 and baseline HR greater than 90.
  • Any clinically significant heart abnormality or cardiovascular disease
  • History of glaucoma
  • History of melanoma or current suspicious undiagnosed skin lesions
  • History of allergic reaction or adverse reaction to study medications (levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone; methylphenidate; raclopride).
  • Metal implants or paramagnetic objects contained within the body which may interfere with the MRI scan as determined in consultation with a neuroradiologist and according to the guidelines set forth in the following reference book commonly used by neuroradiologists: "Guide to MR procedures and metallic objects" by Shellock
  • Lifetime exposure to radiation in the workplace, or history of participation in nuclear medicine procedures, including research protocols
  • Individuals who are predominantly left handed. Based on a score <50 on the Edinburg Handed Inventory (E.H.I.).
  • Current or recent DSM-IV psychiatric or substance use disorders
  • Past history of any major Axis I disorder (e.g., psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, recurrent major depressive disorder, OCD or eating disorders).
  • Unstable medical disorders, or medical disorders that might interfere with study participation.
  • Concurrent treatment with psychotropic medications
  • Positive serum pregnancy test, lactation, or unwillingness to use a satisfactory method of birth control *
  • Baseline systolic BP of > 140 and < 100, diastolic BP > 90 and < 60 and baseline HR greater than 90.
  • Any clinically significant heart abnormality or cardiovascular disease
  • History of allergic reaction or adverse reaction to study medications (methylphenidate; raclopride).
  • Metal implants or paramagnetic objects contained within the body which may interfere with the MRI scan as determined in consultation with a neuroradiologist and according to the guidelines set forth in the following reference book commonly used by neuroradiologists: "Guide to MR procedures and metallic objects" by Shellock
  • Individuals who are predominantly left handed. Based on a score <50 on the Edinburg Handed Inventory (E.H.I.).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • STARS

    New York, New York, 10032

Other trials in United States

About this study

The proposed study will look at cocaine dependent individuals and will consist of three consecutive phases: 1) the 2-week outpatient lead-in phase during which behavioral therapy will be administered; 2) the 15-21 day inpatient phase (during which participants will start study medication of levodopa,carbidopa and entacapone (LCE) and will undergo brain imaging and 3) the 24 weeks outpatient treatment trial. The purpose is to see if treatment with LCE may reverse baseline brain deficits and if this change is associated with clinical improvement. Hypothesis is that treatment with LCE, compared to placebo, increases abstinence from cocaine over a 12-week trial in combination with behavioral treatment with voucher incentives.

Read the detailed description

Cocaine dependence remains a serious public health problem; however no clearly effective pharmacological treatments have been identified to date. The investigators hypothesize that identification of subgroups of cocaine-dependent patients will help to develop targeted and more effective treatments. The investigators have observed that 30-40% of cocaine-dependent patients who enter our medication trials achieve abstinence during the lead-in period (the two weeks prior to starting medication). Initial abstinence is strongly predictive of abstinence during the subsequent medication trial. The investigators have also observed that a low dopamine release in the striatum is associated with greater choice of cocaine in volunteers and failure of cocaine-dependent patients to respond to behavioral treatment. The investigators hypothesize that individuals who have difficulties in achieving abstinence have a deficit in dopaminergic functioning and correcting this deficit using dopaminergic medication LCE (levodopa in combination with carbidopa and entacapone) will result in clinical improvement.

The proposed study will consist of three consecutive phases: 1) the 2-week outpatient lead-in phase during which behavioral therapy will be administered; 2) the 15-21 day inpatient phase (during which participants will start study medication and will undergo brain imaging; one PET and two fMRI scan sessions); and 3) the 24 weeks outpatient treatment trial.

Study medication (LCE or placebo) will be administered in a double-blind, placebo controlled manner for one week during inpatient phase followed by 12 weeks of the outpatient trial. During the remaining 12 weeks of the outpatient trial participants will receive therapy only.

The purpose of the lead-in phase is to identify patients who do not achieve abstinence in response to behavioral treatment. Subsequently, two matched subgroups of participants (half who achieved abstinence and half who did not achieve abstinence) will undergo the [11C] raclopride displacement PET brain imaging procedure. This procedure allows the measurement of dopamine release in response to a single dose of methylphenidate, and the investigators will determine if failure to achieve abstinence during the lead-in period is associated low dopamine transmission.

All participants in the proposed study will also undergo a functional MRI with the Motivational Incentive Delay task (fMRI/MID). This task is thought to reflect dopaminergic transmission in the brain-reward system but is safer and more feasible than PET. The investigators hypothesize that fMRI/MID will correlate strongly with results from the PET procedure, thereby suggesting that it also reflects the status of striatal dopamine functioning. In addition, a group of healthy controls will undergo one fMRI scan in order to validate the procedure and to assess if a deficit can be detected in cocaine-dependent participants. Cocaine-dependent participants will undergo two fMRI/MID, one at baseline and another after a week of treatment with LCE to assess if treatment with LCE may reverse baseline deficits and if this change is associated with clinical improvement.

Being tested
levodopa carbidopa and entacapone (LCE), Placebo
Keywords
cocaine dependence, levodopa, carbidopa, entacapone
Medical subject headings
Cocaine-Related Disorders

What participants receive

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

  • levodopa carbidopa and entacapone (LCE)Drug

    400mg/100mg/200mg, twice daily

  • PlaceboDrug

    matched placebo for LCE condition dosed twice daily

Study groups in NCT01468012
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
levodopa carbidopa and entacapone (LCE)Experimental400mg/100mg/200mg, twice daily dosing of levodopa carbidopa and entacapone (LCE)
Receives: Drug: levodopa carbidopa and entacapone (LCE)
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorplacebo
Receives: Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Cocaine Urine Toxicology

    Abstinence will be assessed by urine toxicology results collected 3x/week during the 24 week trial or for the length of participation

    Measured: collected 3x/week for 24 weeks of trial or for the duration of the participants involvement in the study.

  2. Retention in Treatment

    The number of participants who completed the 12-week medication phase of the study.

    Measured: 12 weeks

Timeline

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

  1. First posted9 Nov 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2014
  3. Primary completionJul 2014
  4. Study completionDec 2015

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 2/3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
23 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01468012
Sponsor's protocol ID
#6022
Other IDs
6022
Acronym
COST
Status last verified
May 2018
First submitted
7 Nov 2011
Last updated
22 May 2018
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2/3 study testing levodopa carbidopa and entacapone (LCE) in people with Cocaine Dependence, run by New York State Psychiatric Institute 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 10 inclusion and 24 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 22 May 2018. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this combined phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

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?

Cocaine Urine Toxicology (time frame: collected 3x/week for 24 weeks of trial or for the duration of the participants involvement in the study.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 22 May 2018.

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