A Pilot Study of N-acetylcysteine for Alcohol Use Disorder
Overview
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Intervention
- N-acetylcysteine
- Conditions
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Sponsor
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in drinks per drinking day
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
This proposed pilot study aims to assess the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on alcohol use disorder (AUD). Despite promising preliminary research, no investigations to date have focused on NAC with alcohol use as the primary aim or on individuals specifically seeking treatment for AUD. The present proposal is an 7-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 3000mg of NAC in up to 50 participants (25 NAC, 25 placebo).
The primary aim of the current study is to establish feasibility, dropout rate, and estimate the standard deviation of the outcome measures in order to estimate the required sample for a fully powered clinical trial and to refine the final measures for use in the fully powered clinical trial. Additionally, this study will explore preliminary efficacy signal of NAC.
Detailed Description
Alcohol abuse is responsible for 1 in 10 deaths among working age adults in the U.S. and costs \~$249 billion annually. Currently approved medications for alcohol use disorder (AUD) exert only small to medium effects on drinking, with estimates indicating 12 to 20 drinkers need to be treated for one of them to benefit from the two leading medications, acamprosate and naltrexone. Thus, many patients do not benefit from current pharmacotherapies for AUD. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is one promising pharmacotherapy that is well-tolerated, safe, and exhibits preliminary evidence across a number of psychiatric and neurological disorders. NAC is available over the counter, has been used all over the world for a variety of conditions, most notably for its 1985 FDA approved use as an antidote for acetaminophen overdose. The NAC dosage was selected as most prior studies in addiction have used 2400-3000mg and even studies up to 3600mg have found it was well-tolerated. Many studies using doses in this range achieved clinically significant improvements, including a study of NAC for smoking cessation which used 3000mg. 7 weeks was selected rather than 12 weeks or longer duration because this within the range of prior clinical trials of NAC (most are 8-12 weeks) and is fitting for the goals of this pilot trial seeking to establish feasibility and sample size for a larger clinical trial. It is beyond the primary aims of this study and the resources of the team to seek longer term outcomes (e.g., drinking at 6 months; https://www.fda.gov/media/91222/download).
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Arms & Interventions
N-acetylcysteine
25 participants randomly selected to receive 1500 milligrams of oral n-acetylcysteine twice daily for 7 weeks.
Intervention: N-acetylcysteine
Placebo
25 participants randomly selected to receive placebo twice daily for 7 weeks.
Intervention: Placebo
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in drinks per drinking day
Time Frame: 7 weeks
Change in drinks per drinking day will be assessed with the Timeline Follow Back alcohol use assessment
Change in total drinking days
Time Frame: 7 weeks
Change in total drinking days will be assessed with the Timeline Follow Back alcohol use assessment
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in alcohol craving(7 weeks)
- Change in alcohol cue-reactivity(7 weeks)
- Change in alcohol demand(7 weeks)