NCT00855699

Brief Summary

Once someone becomes dependent on alcohol (alcoholic), the risks of complications from alcohol withdrawal when they stop drinking grow. These can include a life-threatening fit or delirium tremens (see things, become frightened). To prevent such complications, people take medication such as benzodiazepines (e.g., valium or librium) in reducing doses for about a week; this is called detoxification or 'detox.' In the UK effective alcohol treatment exists but little is known about what is the best detox medication. Alternative drugs to benzodiazepines appear to protect the brain from the toxicity of alcohol withdrawal and to reduce the likelihood of drinking again. This study will examine the feasibility of comparing medication regimens for alcohol detox for the first time in primary care. It will include a standard detox regimen (librium over 8 days) alone and together with a drug, acamprosate, that has been shown to reduce toxicity of alcohol withdrawal in preclinical models and is used after detox to help people remain sober. It will focus on the practicalities of doing such a study as well as assessing how people feel (withdrawal symptoms) and do (drinking during first month).

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
36

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for phase_4

Timeline
Completed

Started Nov 2009

Shorter than P25 for phase_4

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

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 3, 2009

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 4, 2009

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

November 1, 2009

Completed
8 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 1, 2010

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 1, 2010

Completed
Last Updated

January 19, 2011

Status Verified

January 1, 2011

Enrollment Period

8 months

First QC Date

March 3, 2009

Last Update Submit

January 18, 2011

Conditions

Keywords

Alcohol detoxification

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Reduction in alcohol withdrawal symptoms

    up to 10 days

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • alcohol drinking

    within 4 weeks of end of detox

Interventions

Acamprosate 333mg tablets, two tablets three times a day for duration of alcohol detox.

Also known as: Campral

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Anyone (18-65 years old) consulting their GP for whom a community based alcohol detox requiring medication is appropriate.
  • Due to acamprosate's license for maintaining abstinence, nobody under the age of 18 and over 65 will be recruited.

You may not qualify if:

  • Unsuitable for home/community detox, e.g., with current or significant history of:
  • delirium tremens or seizures
  • current or history of high dose polydrug use
  • significant medical or psychiatric ill health
  • pregnant or breast feeding
  • Wernicke's encephalopathy

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Bristol, Bristol PCT.

Bristol, BS6 6JL, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alcoholism

Interventions

Acamprosate

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Alcohol-Related DisordersSubstance-Related DisordersChemically-Induced DisordersMental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

TaurineAlkanesulfonic AcidsAlkanesHydrocarbons, AcyclicHydrocarbonsOrganic ChemicalsSulfonic AcidsSulfur AcidsSulfur Compounds

Study Officials

  • Anne Lingford-Hughes

    University of Bristol

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 4
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 3, 2009

First Posted

March 4, 2009

Study Start

November 1, 2009

Primary Completion

July 1, 2010

Study Completion

November 1, 2010

Last Updated

January 19, 2011

Record last verified: 2011-01

Locations