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A Phase II/III Double-Blind Study of Amitriptyline and Mexiletine for Painful Neuropathy in HIV Infection

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
HIV Infections
Peripheral Nervous System Disease
Registration Number
NCT00000793
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Brief Summary

To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of amitriptyline hydrochloride versus mexiletine hydrochloride in reducing pain intensity in patients with HIV-related painful peripheral neuropathy.

No large-scale controlled clinical trials of symptomatic therapy for painful HIV-related neuropathy have been attempted. Both amitriptyline and mexiletine have been useful in the management of painful neuropathies; however, both are associated with certain toxicities. In this comparative study of amitriptyline and mexiletine, benztropine mesylate also will be included as an active placebo to mimic the side effects of the study drugs.

Detailed Description

No large-scale controlled clinical trials of symptomatic therapy for painful HIV-related neuropathy have been attempted. Both amitriptyline and mexiletine have been useful in the management of painful neuropathies; however, both are associated with certain toxicities. In this comparative study of amitriptyline and mexiletine, benztropine mesylate also will be included as an active placebo to mimic the side effects of the study drugs.

Patients are randomized to receive amitriptyline, mexiletine, or benztropine mesylate as an active placebo to mimic the mild side effects associated with both amitriptyline and mexiletine. Doses are gradually increased over 4 weeks until a minimum effective dose or MTD is reached, then patients are treated for at least 4 additional weeks at the final dose before gradually tapering off. Neurologic exams are performed at screening and at the end of treatment. Intensity of pain is rated twice daily by the patient. Patients are followed at Weeks 2, 4, and 8, and at 10 days after completely tapering off of drug.

PER 3/16/95 AMENDMENT: Patients with no pain relief 14 days after initiation of study therapy may have dose doubled or increased to maximum allowable dose, whichever is lower. Then if no improvement occurs within 14 days after dose increase, patients have the option of discontinuing study medication.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
240
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (37)

Alabama Therapeutics CRS

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

UCLA CARE Center CRS

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Ucsd, Avrc Crs

🇺🇸

San Diego, California, United States

Ucsf Aids Crs

🇺🇸

San Francisco, California, United States

Harbor-UCLA Med. Ctr. CRS

🇺🇸

Torrance, California, United States

University of Colorado Hospital CRS

🇺🇸

Aurora, Colorado, United States

Howard University Hosp., Div. of Infectious Diseases, ACTU

🇺🇸

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Univ. of Miami AIDS CRS

🇺🇸

Miami, Florida, United States

The Ponce de Leon Ctr. CRS

🇺🇸

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Queens Med. Ctr.

🇺🇸

Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

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Alabama Therapeutics CRS
🇺🇸Birmingham, Alabama, United States

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