The Effects of Prazosin on Dopamine in Healthy Humans: A PET Pilot Study

Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 1

Conditions

Healthy

Treatments

Drug: Prazosin Hydrochloride

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT01999530

224/2012

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to find out whether short term treatment with a antihypertensive medication prazosin, can influence the levels of a dopamine in the brain. We will examine the levels of dopamine in the the brain using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). We hypothesize that there will be no significant changes in dopamine levels in healthy individuals taking prazosin.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to find out whether short term treatment with a antihypertensive medication prazosin, can influence the levels of dopamine in the brain. We will examine the levels of dopamine in the the brain using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The study will involve three PET scans and one MRI. One PET scan will be performed before the participants take prazosin for approximately three weeks, and the last two PET scans will be performed after the prazosin medication phase. We hypothesize that there will be no significant changes in dopamine levels in healthy individuals taking prazosin.

Enrollment

20 patients

Sex

All

Ages

19 to 45 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Healthy males and females of any ethnic origin between 19 and 45 years old

Exclusion criteria

Use of any illicit drugs in past 3 months prior to randomization and/or have a current or past diagnosis of drug abuse/dependence (including alcohol)
Current or past DSM-IV diagnosis of any Axis I psychiatric disorder
Major psychiatric illness and/or substance dependence in first order relatives
Current active or past suicidal ideation
Baseline systolic blood pressure outside the normal range
Current use of medications that could interact with prazosin (e.g. beta blockers, phosphodiesterasetype 5 inhibitors, indomethacin, verapamil, modafinil, clonidine)
Current use or use during the previous month of medication that may affect the CNS at the time of scanning (e.g. neuroleptics, bupropion)
Any significant abnormalities in baseline blood results (e.g. CBC, renal and hepatic indicators) or ECG readings that would preclude the use of prazosin
Pregnancy, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding
Presence of metal objects in the body (e.g. some artificial joints, bone pins, surgical clips, skull plate, certain part of dental braces) or implanted electronic devices (e.g. cardiac pacemaker, neurostimulator), that preclude safe MR scanning
Claustrophobia
Participation in any nuclear medicine procedures that, including the dose received during participation in this study, will bring the total radiation dose over the currently approved guideline of 20mSv in a 12-month period
Cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases
History of or current neurological illnesses including seizure disorders, migraine, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, head trauma, CVA or CNS tumor
Abnormal body mass (defined as not within 20% of normal BMI
Learning disability, amnesia or other conditions that impede memory and attention