Tramadol to Reduce Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 2

Conditions

Opioid-Related Disorders

Treatments

Drug: Naloxone

Drug: Tramadol

Drug: Morphine

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00142896

R01-18125-1

NIDA-18125-1

DPMC

Details and patient eligibility

About

Individuals with opioid addiction often experience serious withdrawal symptoms that may make relapse unavoidable. Tramadol, a medication that is currently used to treat pain caused by chronic conditions such as cancer or joint pain, may also be effective at reducing opioid withdrawal symptoms. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of tramadol at reducing withdrawal symptoms in individuals addicted to opioid drugs.

Full description

Opioid withdrawal symptoms are a major contributing factor for why opioid treatment programs often fail. Individuals with severe opioid withdrawal symptoms may experience shaking, muscle and bone pain, nausea, depression, anxiety, and drug craving. Tramadol is a medication that is currently used to treat moderate to severe pain in individuals with cancer, joint pain, or pain resulting from surgery. Because of its pharmacological profile, tramadol may also be useful in treating opioid withdrawal. Further research is needed to confirm the benefits of tramadol for opioid addicts. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of tramadol at reducing opioid withdrawal symptoms in opioid-dependent individuals.

This 6-week inpatient study will enroll opioid-dependent individuals. Participants will be required to reside at the research clinic for the entire study. All participants will receive morphine maintenance treatment on a daily basis. Twice a week participants will take part in experimental challenge sessions in which they will be randomly assigned to receive varying doses of tramadol, naloxone, morphine, or placebo. These sessions will assess the ability of tramadol to suppress opioid withdrawal symptoms. Participants will complete performance tasks to measure psychomotor and cognitive functioning. Heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the experimental sessions. A specialized camera will also be used to assess pupillary response of the eyes. Questionnaires and self-reports will be completed to assess medication effects and withdrawal symptoms. Following the end of the study, all participants will be offered outpatient drug abuse treatment.

Enrollment

16 patients

Sex

All

Ages

21 to 55 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Meets DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for opioid dependence
Is in good physical health
Qualifies for treatment with opioid agonist therapy (e.g., methadone)
If female, must have a negative pregnancy test prior to study entry

Exclusion criteria

Evidence of significant medical illness (e.g., insulin dependent diabetes mellitus)
Evidence of significant psychiatric illness (e.g., schizophrenia)
Currently seeking treatment for substance abuse
Pregnant or breastfeeding