Nitrous Oxide as Treatment for Fibromyalgia

The University of Chicago

Status and phase: Enrolling; Phase 2

Conditions: Central Neuropathic Pain; Fibromyalgia

Treatments: Drug: Nitrous oxide gas for inhalation; Drug: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05357066

IRB20-1169

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to explore a potential role of nitrous oxide in treating pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Full description

Investigators are conducting this trial to determine the efficacy of nitrous oxide on fibromyalgia, a chronic, debilitating, disorder typified by widespread musculoskeletal pain, accompanied by symptoms of fatigue, affected sleep, memory issues, and mood disorders.

Studies suggests that the chronic widespread pain seen in fibromyalgia patients has a neurogenic origin. Higher levels of ascending pathway neurochemicals, including nerve growth factor, substance P, and brain derived neurotrophic factor, are present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of fibromyalgia patients when compared to healthy controls. In addition, glutamate levels can be elevated in both the CSF and brain of fibromyalgia patients. Glutamate may play a central role, by acting on the NMDA-receptors to increase the central amplification of pain perception, which is thought to manifest as allodynia and hyperalgesia in fibromyalgia patients. NMDA-receptors are thus an attractive target for fibromyalgia therapeutic drug development.

In four other randomized controlled trial(s) to evaluate ketamine an NMDA-receptor antagonist; two demonstrated an acute reduction in VAS pain scores (20- to -25 points) 90- to 120-minutes following IV ketamine 0.3 mg/kg compared with placebo; while the other two using different drug concentrations and dose regimen (0.3 mg/kg over 30 minutes and 0.5 mg/kg for 3 hours) showed a 0.5- to 0.9-point reduction in pain scores (10-cm VAS) at 90 to 180 minutes following IV ketamine compared with placebo. Although all four trials demonstrated significant acute pain improvement during and immediately following the infusions, there were no sustained improvements.

Given nitrous oxide is another drug with known NMDA-receptor antagonism, this trial will evaluate the efficacy of inhaled 50% nitrous oxide compared to placebo (oxygen-air mixture). Study participants with a clinical diagnosis of fibromyalgia, meeting 2016-Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria (2016-ACR) and neuropathic pain criterion will be randomly assigned to receive two, 60-minute inhalation sessions (50% nitrous oxide and placebo).

Treatment outcomes will be monitored using diagnostic tools measuring functionality, pain, and mood:

• Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
• Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR)
• Patients Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC)
• Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
• Computerized Adaptive Test-Mental Health (CAT-MH)

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 75 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 2016 American College of Rheumatology Revised criteria for fibromyalgia (2016-ACR)
• Subjects 18 -75 years of age.
• Self-reported pain of at least 4 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) at screening and baseline.
• Subject receives and agrees to remain on their stable fibromyalgia treatment plan established at least 4 weeks prior to dosing. Stable means no change in dose or any pain medication.
• Ability to understand the requirements of the study, provide written informed consent, abide by the study restrictions, and agree to return for the required assessments
• If currently on psychotherapy, it must have been maintained at the same frequency for 4 weeks prior to treatment.

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable doses of allowed antidepressants or muscle relaxants or dosages for any other medical condition.
• Pain due to concurrent autoimmune or inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, or other chronic widespread pain condition(s) that may confound fibromyalgia pain.
• Psychiatric or cognitive disorder (e.g., current schizophrenia, severe depression, suicidal ideation, dementia, etc.) that the investigator or sponsor considers significant for this study.
• Clinically significant alcohol or other substance abuse within the last 2 years, in the opinion of the investigator.
• Current or recent history of medically inappropriate or illegal use of drugs of abuse including benzodiazepines, opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids, and amphetamines.
• Current treatment with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) ligands including ketamine, amantadine, dextromethorphan, memantine, methadone, or dextropropoxyphene.
• Subjects who are pregnant, breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study and for 28 days after the final administration of investigational product.
• Any other serious medical condition affecting heart, lung or any other organ system.
• Any impairment, activity or situation that in the judgment of the investigator would prevent satisfactory completion of the study protocol.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

50 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Treatment; Nitrous Oxide 50%

Active Comparator group

Description:

A single 60-minute session of inhaled 50% nitrous oxide.

Treatment:

Drug: Nitrous oxide gas for inhalation

Control; Oxygen-air mixture

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

A single 60-minute session of inhaled Oxygen-air mixture

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo