ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00135759Updated Jan 12, 2017

Addition of Naltrexone to Methadone Taper

A Phase 2 interventional study of Naltrexone and Placebo comparator in Heroin Dependence, Opioid-Related Disorders and Substance-Related Disorders, sponsored by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2017-01-12.

Sponsored by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
174
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

There is a continuing search for more effective opiate detoxification treatments. This study's purpose is to investigate the effects of adding very low doses of naltrexone to a methadone tapering treatment in opioid dependent individuals.

Read the detailed description

Although many different techniques for opiate detoxification exist, the search continues for more effective approaches to reduce the duration and discomfort associated with opioid withdrawal. It has been shown that very low doses of naltrexone administered in the presence of opiates has analgesic and dependency reducing properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of very low doses of naltrexone administered during a methadone tapering schedule for opiate detoxification. In addition, this study will compare the effectiveness of two different dose regimens of naltrexone.

Participants in this double-blind study will be recruited among opioid dependent individuals already enrolled in a 6-day inpatient opioid detoxification program. Participants will be already receiving standard treatment to control discomfort during a methadone tapering schedule. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. Two of the groups will be given naltrexone; Group 1 will receive 0.125 mg each day, and Group 2 will receive 0.250 mg each day. Group 3 will receive a placebo. Participants will be evaluated upon enrollment for opiate addiction severity. They will continue to be evaluated daily for signs of withdrawal and salivary cortisol. An additional evaluation and urine test will be completed 1 day following discharge. Daily evaluations will take 15 minutes to complete. Seven days following discharge, participants will be contacted for a 20-minute phone interview. During the phone interview, participants will schedule an appointment to provide a final urine specimen for the detection of drugs of abuse.

02

Conditions studied

  • Heroin Dependence
  • Opioid-Related Disorders
  • Substance-Related Disorders

Keywords

  • opiate dependence
03

In context

Heroin Dependence

90 studies on the registry are indexed under Heroin Dependence; 1 is open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 174 is above the median of 87 across 57 interventional studies indexed under Heroin Dependence.

Browse Heroin Dependence studies →

Lead sponsor

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is the lead sponsor of 393 studies on the registry; 19 are open to participants now.

Of its 14 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 6 (43%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Current diagnosis of opiate dependence
  • Reads and understands English

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Serious medical disorders (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, acute or chronic active hepatitis, kidney failure, uncontrolled diabetes)
  • Psychiatric conditions that require intensive services (e.g., depression with suicidal ideation, psychosis)
  • Mental retardation or other disorder that might limit ability to give
  • Pregnant
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

DSM diagnostic criteria

The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double (Participant, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
174 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Placebo comparator
    Group 1

    Drug

    Drug: Placebo comparator

  • Experimental
    2

    experimental

    Drug: Naltrexone

  • Experimental
    3

    experimental

    Drug: Naltrexone

Interventions

  • low dose naltrexone in addition to daily methadone taper

  • DrugPlacebo comparator

    1 capsule/day for 6 days

  • 0.125 mg capsule/day for 6 days

  • 0.250 mg capsule/day for 6 days

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Withdrawal intensity

    Time frame: 6 days

Secondary outcomes

  1. Retention in treatment

    Time frame: 6 days

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Duke University
    Durham, North Carolina 27704, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Mannelli P, Wu LT, Peindl KS, Gorelick DA. Smoking and opioid detoxification: behavioral changes and response to treatment. Nicotine Tob Res. 2013 Oct;15(10):1705-13. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntt046. Epub 2013 Apr 9. PubMed 23572466 ↗
  • Mannelli P, Peindl K, Wu LT, Patkar AA, Gorelick DA. The combination very low-dose naltrexone-clonidine in the management of opioid withdrawal. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2012 May;38(3):200-5. doi: 10.3109/00952990.2011.644003. Epub 2012 Jan 10. PubMed 22233189 ↗
  • Mannelli P, Peindl K, Patkar AA, Wu LT, Tharwani HM, Gorelick DA. Problem drinking and low-dose naltrexone-assisted opioid detoxification. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2011 May;72(3):507-13. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2011.72.507. PubMed 21513688 ↗
  • Mannelli P, Peindl K, Patkar AA, Wu LT, Pae CU, Gorelick DA. Reduced cannabis use after low-dose naltrexone addition to opioid detoxification. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010 Aug;30(4):476-8. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0b013e3181e5c168. No abstract available. PubMed 20631574 ↗
  • Mannelli P, Patkar AA, Peindl K, Gottheil E, Wu LT, Gorelick DA. Early outcomes following low dose naltrexone enhancement of opioid detoxification. Am J Addict. 2009 Mar-Apr;18(2):109-16. doi: 10.1080/10550490902772785. PubMed 19283561 ↗
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Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
Not marked actual or estimatedDates not marked actual or estimated

The record gives a start of Apr 2005 and a completion of Jul 2006. It does not say whether these dates are actual or estimated.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Aug 23, 2005
First posted
Aug 26, 2005
Start
Apr 2005
CompletionActual
Jul 2006
Last update
Jan 12, 2017
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jan 12, 2017, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00135759
First posted
Aug 26, 2005
Start date
Apr 2005
Completion
Jul 2006
Last update
Jan 12, 2017

Study contacts

Paolo Mannelli, M.D.
principal investigator · Duke University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2008. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: Naltrexone

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