A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Riluzole in Bipolar Depression

Johns Hopkins University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Bipolar Disorder

Treatments: Other: Placebo; Drug: Riluzole

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00376220

04-04-23-10

Details and patient eligibility

About

The Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry is conducting a research study to examine the effectiveness of riluzole in treating the depressed phase of bipolar disorder. This outpatient treatment study of medication or placebo will last 9-12 weeks. The study includes medical and psychiatric evaluations as well as time-limited medication treatment at no cost, and you will be compensated for your participation.

Full description

The study will last 8 to 12 weeks and requires weekly visits. Participants will come to Johns Hopkins for a screening visit during which they will talk with a psychiatrist, answer questions about their mood and symptoms, have their blood drawn and have a brief physical exam. If they meet criteria for the study, any antidepressant medication that they are taking will be tapered and stopped before beginning study medications. Participation in the study includes free study medication, labs, and testing plus reimbursement for transportation. Participants will also be paid and after the study referred back to their treating psychiatrist with treatment recommendations.

Enrollment: 94 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Ages 18-75
• Diagnosed with Bipolar I or II disorder and currently depressed
• Tried at least one antidepressant during the current episode of depression
• Currently taking either lithium, depakote, or tegretol
• Currently in outpatient treatment with a psychiatrist

Exclusion criteria

• Current psychotic symptoms
• Women who are pregnant or nursing
• Any serious, uncontrolled medical illness
• History of liver problems
• Current or past blood diseases
• Current drug or alcohol abuse
• Currently receiving Electroconvulsive Shock Therapy (ECT)
• Judged to be at serious suicidal risk

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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94 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

1

Experimental group

Description:

Drug: Riluzole Initially dispensed 50 mg capsules to take twice a day (BID). At two weeks, increase dose to 50 mg/100 mg. At four weeks increase to 100 mg BID (two capsules in the morning (qAM), two capsules in the evening (qHS). If significant side effects occur (at any time), titration can be slowed and doses can be reduced to a minimum daily dose of 50 mg/day, after which titration may resume by no more than 50 mg a week. Subjects who are unable to tolerate the minimal daily dose permitted in the study will be discontinued from further participation. In addition, if clinical remission is observed at a lower dose of study medication (defined as Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) \< 12) the dose will not be increased further unless clinical symptoms recur. Other Names: • Rilutek

Treatment:

Drug: Riluzole

2

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Initially dispensed 50mg capsules to take BID. At two weeks increase dose to 50 mg/100 mg. At four weeks increase to 100 mg BID (two capsules qAM, two capsules qHS). If significant side effects occur (at any time), titration can be slowed and doses can be reduced to a minimum daily dose of 50 mg/day, after which titration may resume by no more than 50 mg a week. Subjects who are unable to tolerate the minimal daily dose permitted in the study will be discontinued from further participation. In addition, if clinical remission is observed at a lower dose of study medication (defined as MADRS \< 12) the dose will not be increased further unless clinical symptoms recur.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo