AzTrials
AzTrials

Central Neuropathic PainPhase 2NCT02218203

Clinical Neuropharmacology of Pain in Spinal Cord Injury- Dextromethorphan/Lidocaine Combination Clinical Trial

A Phase 2 study testing Dextromethorphan and Lidocaine in people with Central Neuropathic Pain and Allodynia, run by Brigham and Women's Hospital 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
Search all trials

Trial summary

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 4x4 crossover clinical trial was part of a larger NIH-funded study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of multiple dose-combinations of chronic oral (PO) dextromethorphan and intravenous (IV) lidocaine in central neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
What is being tested?
Dextromethorphan and Lidocaine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
26 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Apr 2003to Jan 2008
Phase
Phase 2
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 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Healthy male or female adults, age 18 to 70 with central neuropathic pain for a minimum of 3 months following SCI as confirmed by neurologic evaluation, with an average pain intensity score of at least moderate over at least 50% of the day for the 7 days prior to the screening visit and over the 7 days prior to starting study medication.
  • Subjects used no medication or a stabilized medication regimen for chronic and well-controlled medical conditions
  • Serum laboratory examination obtained at study entry:
  • Normal cognitive function.
  • Signed informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Pregnancy or breast-feeding.
  • Renal or hepatic dysfunction.
  • Significant cardiac disease (e.g. MI within 1 year).
  • Signs or symptoms of central neurological disorder, excluding SCI.
  • Severe psychological disorder requiring treatment.
  • History of hypersensitivity or intolerance to dextromethorphan or lidocaine.
  • Participation in a study of an investigational drug or device within 30 days prior to screening for this study.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Translational Pain Research, Brigham and Women's Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Clinical Neuropharmacology of Pain in Spinal Cord Injury- Dextromethorphan/Lidocaine Combination (Factorial Design) Clinical Trial

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind 4x4 crossover clinical trial was part of a larger NIH-funded study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of multiple dose-combinations of chronic oral (PO) dextromethorphan and intravenous (IV) lidocaine in central neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury.

Read the detailed description

This trial has several objectives:

Primary Objective To determine which combination (dose-ratio) of dextromethorphan and lidocaine provides the best balance of pain reduction and toxicity.

Secondary Objectives include To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of both dextromethorphan and lidocaine in attenuating pain related to central nervous system sensitization, specifically spontaneous pain, mechanical allodynia, and hyperalgesia.

Being tested
Dextromethorphan, Lidocaine, Placebo (Dextromethorphan), Placebo (Lidocaine)
Keywords
chronic pain, central neuropathic pain, spinal cord injury, dextromethorphan, lidocaine, combination therapy, analgesia
Medical subject headings
Hyperalgesia, Spinal Cord Injuries, Chronic Pain, Agnosia

What participants receive

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

  • DextromethorphanDrug

    Administered in 4 periods (placebo, low dose, medium dose, and high dose) for each subject, relative to each subject's MTD)

  • LidocaineDrug

    0mg, 1mg, 2mg, and 4mg Lidocaine per kg of lean body mass (LBM), during each of the 4 dextromethorphan periods (placebo, low dose, medium dose, and high dose)

  • Placebo (Dextromethorphan)Drug

    0mg Dextromethorphan

  • Placebo (Lidocaine)Drug

    0mg/kg LBM Lidocaine

Study groups in NCT02218203
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Placebo- 0mg/kg LidoPlacebo comparatorPlacebo in combination with 0mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Placebo (Dextromethorphan); Drug: Placebo (Lidocaine)
Placebo - 1mg/kg LidoExperimentalPlacebo in combination with 1mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Lidocaine; Drug: Placebo (Dextromethorphan)
Placebo - 2mg/kg LidoExperimentalPlacebo in combination with 2mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Lidocaine; Drug: Placebo (Dextromethorphan)
Placebo - 4mg/kg LidoExperimentalPlacebo in combination with 4mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Lidocaine; Drug: Placebo (Dextromethorphan)
Low Dose Dex - 0mg/kg LidoExperimentalLow dose dextromethorphan in combination with 0mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Placebo (Lidocaine)
Low Dose Dex - 1mg/kg LidoExperimentalLow dose dextromethorphan in combination with 1mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine
Low Dose Dex - 2mg/kg LidoExperimentalLow dose dextromethorphan in combination with 2mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine
Low Dose Dex - 4mg/kg LidoExperimentalLow dose dextromethorphan in combination with 4mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine
Medium Dose Dex - 0mg/kg LidoExperimentalMedium dose dextromethorphan in combination with 0mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Placebo (Lidocaine)
Medium Dose Dex - 1mg/kg LidoExperimentalMedium dose dextromethorphan in combination with 1mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine
Medium Dose Dex - 2mg/kg LidoExperimentalMedium dose dextromethorphan in combination with 2mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine
Medium Dose Dex - 4mg/kg LidoExperimentalMedium dose dextromethorphan in combination with 4mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine
High Dose Dex - 0mg/kg LidoExperimentalHigh dose dextromethorphan in combination with 0mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Placebo (Lidocaine)
High Dose Dex - 1mg/kg LidoExperimentalHigh dose dextromethorphan in combination with 1mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine
High Dose Dex - 2mg/kg LidoExperimentalHigh dose dextromethorphan in combination with 2mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine
High Dose Dex - 4mg/kg LidoExperimentalHigh dose dextromethorphan in combination with 4mg/kg LBM lidocaine
Receives: Drug: Dextromethorphan; Drug: Lidocaine

What is being measured

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

  1. Percent Change in Peak Pain Intensity

    Primary outcome was percent change from baseline in mean pain intensity at Cmax (transformed Gracely Scale; 0-35). Higher values on the Gracely scale represent greater pain intensity; the greater the percent change from baseline in mean pain intensity, the bigger the reduction in pain intensity.

    Measured: 30 minutes post-infusion (Cmax)

Timeline

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

  1. First posted18 Aug 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study startApr 2003
  3. Primary completionJan 2008
  4. Study completionJan 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 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Factorial
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
26 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02218203
Sponsor's protocol ID
2000p001387
Other IDs
R01NS041503
Status last verified
Nov 2025
First submitted
13 Aug 2014
Last updated
8 Dec 2025
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Dextromethorphan and Lidocaine in people with Central Neuropathic Pain and Allodynia, run by Brigham and Women's Hospital 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 5 inclusion and 7 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 8 Dec 2025. 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 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.

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 22 Mar 2018). 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?

Percent Change in Peak Pain Intensity (time frame: 30 minutes post-infusion (Cmax)). 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 8 Dec 2025.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in