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The Oslo Study of Clonidine in Elderly Patients With Delirium

Phase 2
Terminated
Conditions
Delirium
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT01956604
Lead Sponsor
Oslo University Hospital
Brief Summary

Delirium ("acute confusional state")is characterized by an acute decline in attention and cognition, and is a common clinical syndrome in elderly patients.

The purpose of this randomised, controlled, parallel group pilot trial is to explore superiority of clonidine vs placebo in decreasing delirium in patients diagnosed delirium at the acute geriatric ward.

We will also study the feasibility of oral clonidine in a geriatric ward and effects of clonidine upon a variety of outcomes as a means to design a more definite study later.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patient > 65 years old admitted to the Medical department
  • Delirium or subsyndromal delirium diagnosed within the last 48 hours
  • Signed informed consent from patient or relatives
  • Expected cooperation of the patients for the treatment and follow up
Exclusion Criteria
  • Symptomatic bradycardia, bradycardia due to sick-sinus-syndrome, second- or third- degree AV-block (not treated With pacemaker) or any other reason causing HR <50 bpm at time of inclusion
  • Symptomatic hypotension or orthostatic hypotension, or a systolic BP <120 at the time of inclusion
  • Ischemic stroke within the last 3 months or critical peripheral ischemia
  • Acute coronary syndrome, unstable or severe coronary heart disease (symptoms at minimal physical activity; NYHA 3 and 4) and moderate to severe heart failure (NYHA 3 and 4).
  • A diagnosis of polyneuropathy or pheochromocytoma
  • Renal insufficiency (estimated GFR<30 ml/min according to the MDRD formula).
  • Body weight < 45 kg.
  • Considered as moribund on admission.
  • Not able to take oral medications
  • Current use of tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine reuptake inhibitors or ciclosporin
  • Previously included in this study
  • Adverse reactions to clonidine or excipients (lactose, saccharose)
  • Not speaking or reading Norwegian
  • Any other condition as evaluated by the treating physician
  • Admitted to the ICU

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Placebo (sugar pill)PlaceboPlacebo administered orally (identical capsula as for expirimental drug): Day 1/loading doases: 75µg every 3rd hour until maximum 4 doses. Day 2-7/maintenance doses: 75µg BID. Duration of treatment is maximum 7 days.
ClonidineClonidineClonidine administered orally: Day 1/loading doses: 75µg every 3rd hour until maximum 4 doses. Day 2-7/maintenance doses: 75µg BID. Duration of treatment is maximum 7 days.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
MDAS (Memorial delirium assessment scale)Participants will be followed for the duration of hospital stay, an expected average of approximately 2 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Time-to-first delirium2 weeks

We will compare the actively treated group with the placebo group (also with subanalyses for subsyndromal delirium and hypoactive/ hyperactive/ mixed delirium) with respect to:

• time to first resolution, monitored by DSM-5 criteria

Cognitive function/ independence4 months
Delirium subtype2 weeks

Measured by MDAS, OSLA

Incidence of "full-scale" delirium2 weeks

• monitored by DSM-5 criteria

Patient distress2 weeks
Side effects of clonidine4 months
Institutionalization4 months
Survival4 months
The use of "rescue medication"2 weeks
Length of hospital stayHospital stay
Pharmacokinetic response to clonidine1 week
Biomarkers2 weeks
Severity of delirium2 weeks

measured by MDAS, OSLA

Pharmacodynamic response to clonidine2 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oslo University Hospital

🇳🇴

Oslo, Norway

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