Effectiveness of Mexiletine for Treating People With Non-Dystrophic Myotonia

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Myotonia
Non-Dystrophic Myotonia

Interventions: Drug: Mexiletine
Drug: Placebo

Registration Number: NCT00832000

Lead Sponsor: Richard Barohn, MD

Brief Summary: Nondystrophic myotonias (NDM) are neuromuscular disorders caused by genetic abnormalities in certain muscle cell membrane proteins. The proteins affect muscle contraction. Individuals with NDM experience limited muscle relaxation, which then can cause pain, weakness, incoordination, and impaired physical activity and function. Because NDM is very rare, information on the best way to treat people with the disorders is lacking, and there are no FDA-approved therapies. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the medication mexiletine in treating people with NDM.

Detailed Description: NDM are neuromuscular disorders that are caused by mutations in skeletal muscle ion channels, usually voltage-dependent sodium and chloride channels. The poorly functioning channels result in impaired muscle relaxation after contraction, which is also called myotonia. Mexiletine is an antiarrhythmic medication that has a high affinity for muscle sodium channels and may have the ability to correct delayed inactivation of sodium channels. In case reports and single-blind clinical trials, mexiletine was shown to reduce symptoms of myotonia. Currently, there is no standard strategy for treating people with NDM, and effective treatment options are needed. This study will determine the effectiveness of mexiletine in treating people with NDM.

Participation in this study will last 9 weeks and will involve two separate 4-week treatment periods, with a 1-week washout period between them. During the first treatment period, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either mexiletine or placebo, both of which will be taken three times a day. This will be followed by 1 week of no treatment. During the second treatment period, participants will receive whichever treatment they did not receive initially and will follow the same dosing schedule.

Participants will attend five study visits that will occur at screening and Weeks 0, 4, 5, and 9. Screening will include blood and urine sampling, electrocardiography (EKG), and a medical history. The remaining visits will include a physical examination, a grip test, exercise tests, nerve conduction tests, blood sampling, questionnaires, and electromyography (EMG). EKG will be repeated at Weeks 4, 5, and 9. Throughout the study, participants will phone in daily to report their symptoms. There will be no follow-up visits.

Funded by FDAOPD RO1 0003454.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 59

Inclusion Criteria

Clinical symptoms or signs suggestive of myotonic disorders
Presence of myotonic potentials on electromyography (EMG)
Participant in the Non-Dystrophic Natural History study (RDCRN 5303) or a new patient with confirmed non-dystrophic myotonia

Exclusion Criteria

Other neurological condition that might affect the assessment of the study measurements
Genetic confirmation of DM1 (more than 50 repeats of CTG) or DM2
Existing cardiac conduction defects, as evidenced on EKG, including but not limited to the following conditions: malignant arrhythmia or cardiac conduction disturbances (e.g., second degree AV block, third degree AV block, or prolonged QT interval)
Existing permanent pacemaker
Current use of any of the following antiarrhythmic medications for a cardiac disorder: flecainide acetate, encainide, disopyramide, procainamide, quinidine, propafenone, or mexiletine
Use of medications for myotonia, such as phenytoin and flecainide acetate, within 5 days of study entry; carbamazepine and mexiletine within 3 days of study entry; or propafenone, procainamide, disopyramide, quinidine, and encainide within 2 days of study entry
Use of medications that produce myotonia, which may include fibrate acid derivatives, hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors, chloroquine, and colchicines
Kidney or liver disease
Heart failure
Seizure disorder
Pregnant or breastfeeding

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
2	Mexiletine	Participants will receive placebo for 4 weeks, then no intervention for 1 week, and finally mexiletine for 4 weeks.
2	Placebo	Participants will receive placebo for 4 weeks, then no intervention for 1 week, and finally mexiletine for 4 weeks.
1	Placebo	Participants will receive mexiletine for 4 weeks, then no intervention for 1 week, and finally placebo for 4 weeks.
1	Mexiletine	Participants will receive mexiletine for 4 weeks, then no intervention for 1 week, and finally placebo for 4 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Patient-reported Stiffness on the IVR	Weeks 3-4 of each period	Stiffness measured on a 1-9 scale, 1 being minimal, 9 the worst ever experienced. 0=no symptom reported. For analysis the average severity of stiffness for each participant was calculated from daily calls made in weeks 3-4 of each period.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Patient Reported Pain on the IVR	Weeeks 3-4 of each period	Pain measured on a 1-9 scale, 1 being minimal, 9 the worst ever experienced. 0=no symptom reported. For analysis the average severity of pain for each participant was calculated from daily calls made in weeks 3-4 of each period.
Patient Reported Weakness on the IVR	Weeks 3-4 of each period	Weakness measured on a 1-9 scale, 1 being minimal, 9 the worst ever experienced. 0=no symptom reported. For analysis the average severity of weakness for each participant was calculated from daily calls made in weeks 3-4 of each period.
Patient Reported Tiredness on the IVR	Weeks 3-4 of each period	Tiredness measured on a 1-9 scale, 1 being minimal, 9 the worst ever experienced. 0=no symptom reported. For analysis the average severity of tiredness for each participant was calculated from daily calls made in weeks 3-4 of each period.
Quantitative Measure of Hand Grip Myotonia (Seconds)	The end of period 1 (week 4) and period 2 (week 9)	Maximum voluntary contractions following forced right hand grip were recorded and the time to relax from 90% to 5% of average maximal force was determined using automated analysis software.
Compound Motor Action Potentials After Short Exercise Test	The end of period 1 (week 4) and period 2 (week 9)	The maximal post-exercise compound muscle action potential (CMAP) after short periods of exercise as a percent of the baseline measurement.
Graded Myotonia by Needle Electromyography - Right Abductor Digiti Minimi	The end of period 1 (week 4) and period 2 (week 9)	Measured the amount of myotonia present on needle exam by assigning a number 1-3, with 1 being minimal amount of myotonia on needle stick and 3 being maximal amount of myotonia present on needle stick.
Clinical Hand Grip Myotonia Evaluation (Seconds)	The end of period 1 (week 4) and the end of period 2 (week 9)	The time to open the fist after a forced handgrip as measured on a stopwatch.
Clinical Eye Closure Myotonia Evaluation (Seconds)	The end of period 1 (week 4) and the end of period 2 (week 9)	Time to open the eyes after forced eye closure as measured on a stopwatch.
Graded Myotonia by Needle Electromyography - Right Tibialis Anterior	The end of period 1 (week 4) and period 2 (week 9)	Measured the amount of myotonia present on needle exam by assigning a number 1-3, with 1 being minimal amount of myotonia on needle stick and 3 being maximal amount of myotonia present on needle stick.
Compound Motor Action Potentials After Long Exercise Test	The end of period 1 (week 4) and period 2 (week 9)	Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) after long periods of exercise as a percentage of baseline.
Individualized Neuromuscular Quality of Life Scale - Summary Score	The end of period 1 (week 4) and period 2 (week 9)	Quality of life scale for patinets with neuromuscular disorders. The INQoL summary score is a weighted average made up of 5 subdomains (activities, social relationships, independence, emotions, and body image) which document the impact of a disease on a patients' quality of life. Scores range from 0-100, and can be interpreted as the percent of maximal detrimental impact on quality of life. A higher score indicates more detrimental impact.
Short Form 36 - Physical Composite Score	Particiapnts who experienced weakness on mexiletine in either period 1 or period 2.	The SF-36 is a standard quality of life instrument. The physical composite score represents the the physical burden on quality of life and is a summary of questions related to physical impact of a disease or condition (physical function, role physical, bodily pain, and general health). The score is nomralized to the population and ranges from 0-100, with the US normal value of 50. A lower score represents a greater impact of quality of life.
Short Form 36 - Mental Composite Score	The end of period 1 (week 4) and period 2 (week 9)	The SF-36 is a standard quality of life instrument. The mental composite score represents the the mental burden on quality of life and is a summary of questions related to mental impact of a disease or condition (mental function, role emotional, vitality, and mental health). The score is nomralized to the population and ranges from 0-100, with the US normal value of 50. A lower score represents a greater impact of quality of life.

Trial Locations

Locations (7): Brigham & Women's Hospital
🇺🇸
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
University of Milan
🇮🇹
Milan, Italy
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
🇺🇸
Dallas, Texas, United States
Institute of Neurology and National Hospital for Neurology
🇬🇧
London, United Kingdom
London Health Sciences Center
🇨🇦
London, Ontario, Canada
University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
🇺🇸
Rochester, New York, United States
University of Kansas Medical Center
🇺🇸
Kansas City, Kansas, United States