NCT00734656

Brief Summary

This study will explore the hypothesis that effects of alcohol are in part mediated by increased production of neuroactive steroids, which interact with GABAA-receptors. We propose to study non-dependent drinkers using a 4-session within-subjects design in which alcohol / placebo is paired with dutasteride / placebo pretreatment. Dutasteride is a 5-alpha steroid reductase (5AR) inhibitor that limits the production of dihydrotestosterone and the 5a-reduced neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone, pregnanolone and 3a,5a-androstanediol.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
94

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2007

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 1, 2007

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 31, 2008

Completed
14 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 14, 2008

Completed
2.1 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 1, 2010

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 1, 2011

Completed
9 months until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

March 27, 2012

Completed
Last Updated

March 28, 2012

Status Verified

March 1, 2012

Enrollment Period

3.6 years

First QC Date

July 31, 2008

Results QC Date

October 27, 2011

Last Update Submit

March 26, 2012

Conditions

Keywords

steroid 5Alpha Reductasedutasterideneuroactive steroid

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Breath Alcohol

    Breath Alcohol level

    40 minutes after beginning drink

  • BAES Sedation Response, Average of 6 Time Points

    Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) Sedation items - sum of subjective responses - 0(not at all)to 10 (extremely)- for 7 sedation related questions regarding effects of alcohol. Total BAES sedation subscale score 0-70 with higher numbers indicating greater sedative effects of alcohol. \[Martin, C. S., M. Earleywine, R. E. Musty, M. W. Perrine and R. M. Swift (1993a). Development and validation of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 17(1): 140-6.\]

    40, 80, 120, 160, 210 and 240 minutes after start of drinking

  • BAES Stimulation Response, Average of 6 Time Points

    Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES)Simulation items - sum of subjective responses - 0(not at all)to 10 (extremely)- for 7 stimulation related questions regarding effects of alcohol. Total BAES stimulation subscale score 0-70 with higher numbers indicating greater stimulating effects of alcohol. \[Martin, C. S., M. Earleywine, R. E. Musty, M. W. Perrine and R. M. Swift (1993a). Development and validation of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 17(1): 140-6.\]

    40, 80, 120, 160, 210 and 240 minutes after start of drinking

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in Serum 3a-androstanediol Glucuronide

    Baseline (pre medication administration) and 2-4 days post-medication (alcohol session)

Study Arms (4)

Placebo medication + placebo alcohol

PLACEBO COMPARATOR
Drug: placebo medication + placebo alcohol

Placebo Medication + 0.8 gr/kg Ethanol

EXPERIMENTAL
Drug: placebo medication + ethanol

4 mg Dutasteride + Placebo Alcohol

EXPERIMENTAL
Drug: dutasteride + placebo alcohol

4 mg Dutasteride + 0.8 gr/kg Ethanol

EXPERIMENTAL
Drug: dutasteride + ethanol

Interventions

4 mg dutasteride administered 2-4 days prior to ingestion of 0.8 mg/kg ethanol divided between three drinks consumed over 36 minutes

Also known as: Avodart
4 mg Dutasteride + 0.8 gr/kg Ethanol

placebo medication administered 2-4 days prior to ingestion of 0.8 gr/kg ethanol divided between three drinks consumed over 36 minutes

Placebo Medication + 0.8 gr/kg Ethanol

4 mg dutasteride administered 2-4 days prior to ingestion of three drinks each containing 1 cc ethanol consumed over 36 minutes

Also known as: Avodart
4 mg Dutasteride + Placebo Alcohol

placebo medication administered 2-4 days prior to ingestion of three drinks each containing 1 cc ethanol consumed over 36 minutes

Placebo medication + placebo alcohol

Eligibility Criteria

Age21 Years - 45 Years
Sexmale
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Main Study: Subjects will be healthy volunteers with or without parental history of alcoholism who are 21-45 years old and who have a BMI \>18.5 and \<32.5. Drinking history: All subjects must report at least one occasion in the prior month of drinking at least 3 drinks on a single day; additionally, LD subjects will be selected if they drink 1-3 drinks, 1-3 times per week (up to 5 drinks per week on average), with no more than one occasion in the past 2 months on which they drank \>4 drinks. HD subjects will be selected if they report drinking at least 10 drinks per week, with at least one episode per week of heavy drinking.

You may not qualify if:

  • Main Study: Subjects cannot have a current or past DSM-IV diagnosis of alcohol or drug dependence, current or past 24-months diagnosis of alcohol or drug abuse or another major psychiatric disorder, neurological illness, have had a hypersensitivity reaction to dutasteride, evidence of liver dysfunction, currently be using benzodiazepines, other psychotropic medications or medications that are known to influence steroid hormone levels or metabolism or modify the effects of alcohol. Nicotine-dependent subjects will be excluded to avoid the confounding effects of nicotine withdrawal during day-long laboratory sessions. Women are not allowed to participate. Subjects anticipating moving from the area during the period of their planned study participation will be excluded from study entry.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Connecticut Health Center

Farmington, Connecticut, 06030, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcohol-Related DisordersAlcoholism

Interventions

DutasterideEthanol

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Substance-Related DisordersChemically-Induced DisordersMental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

AzasteroidsSteroids, HeterocyclicSteroidsFused-Ring CompoundsPolycyclic CompoundsAlcoholsOrganic Chemicals

Results Point of Contact

Title
Jonathan Covault
Organization
University of Connecticut Health Center

Study Officials

  • Jonathan Covault, MD, PhD

    UConn Health

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
Yes

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Intervention Model
FACTORIAL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 31, 2008

First Posted

August 14, 2008

Study Start

March 1, 2007

Primary Completion

October 1, 2010

Study Completion

July 1, 2011

Last Updated

March 28, 2012

Results First Posted

March 27, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-03

Locations