CClinicalTrials.gg
TerminatedNCT01471379Updated Apr 13, 2017Results posted

Milnacipran (Savella) in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

A Phase 2 interventional study of Milnacipran and Milnacipran in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, sponsored by Spencer Dorn, MD, MPH. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 79 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2017-04-13.

Sponsored by Spencer Dorn, MD, MPH · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
Due to recruitment difficulties the study is terminated.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
2
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 79 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Purpose: The investigators are proposing to examine the use of Savella® (Milnacipran) for treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women.

Participants: Eligible participants will meet the Rome III diagnostic criteria for IBS.

Procedures: This study will observe patients treated with Savella® as well as patients treated with a placebo (pill with no active drug). The investigators will monitor and compare several patient and symptom related outcomes, as well as evaluate health related quality of life, psychological distress and related psychosocial measures to determine if the addition of Savella® improves clinical pain response as well as secondary outcomes including quality of life.

Read the detailed description

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized primarily by abdominal pain associated with bowel dysfunction. Like many other painful functional somatic syndromes (e.g. fibromyalgia) the pathophysiology of IBS includes abnormal responses to pain and dysregulation of brain-body pain pathways. IBS affects up to 10% of the population, is a leading reason for visits to gastroenterologists and primary care doctors, and, in the United States, annually accrues health care costs over $20 billion.

In their practice the investigators use centrally acting agents to treat IBS. Historically, the investigators have used tricyclic antidepressants based on results of clinical trials, including our NIH funded trial on desipramine. Nonetheless, these agents can produce side effects that limit their full application. More recently the investigators have begun to use SNRIs because they have been shown to benefit for various pain syndromes like diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia. The initial impression is that Milnacipran helps improve IBS symptoms and global well being. There is now a need to systematically determine Milnacipran's value for IBS.

02

Conditions studied

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Keywords

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • IBS
  • Savella
  • Milnacipran
  • Abdominal Pain
03

In context

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

1,062 studies on the registry are indexed under Irritable Bowel Syndrome; 190 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 2 is below the median of 71 across 853 interventional studies indexed under Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Browse Irritable Bowel Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Spencer Dorn, MD, MPH as lead sponsor.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 79 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Meet Rome III criteria for IBS and have no red flags.
  • Must have had a colonoscopy within the previous 5 years to exclude inflammatory or other bowel disease
  • Be fluent and literate in English
  • Must either be of non-childbearing potential or agree to utilize approved birth control for the duration of the study

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis or treatment of any clinically symptomatic biochemical or structural abnormality of the GI tract within 6 months prior to screening, or active disease within 6 months prior to screening.
  • Any other diagnosis to explain the abdominal pain,
  • Clinical evidence of significant cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal, hematologic, neurologic, psychiatric or any disease that may interfere with the subject successfully completing the trial
  • Hepatic dysfunction (ALT [SGPT] or AST [SGOT] >3 times the upper limit of normal) or renal impairment (serum creatinine > 2mg/dL)
  • Has disease affecting electrolytes balance, such as SIADH with serum Sodium less than 130mmol/L
  • Any evidence of or treatment of malignancy (other than localized basal cell, squamous cell skin cancer or cancer in situ that has been resected) within the previous year
  • Any surgery on the stomach, small intestine or colon, excluding appendectomy
  • A major psychiatric disorder (DSM-III-R or DSM-IV) including major depression or other psychoses that has required hospitalization in the last 1 year.
  • History of attempted suicide or uncontrolled bipolar disorder.
  • Currently using antidepressants for psychiatric conditions like major depression. Use of TCA or SSRI class antidepressant acceptable if being used specifically for treatment of bowel symptoms and patient is willing to taper off the medication
  • Previous use of Milnacipran or other SNRI antidepressant (duloxetine, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine)
  • A diagnosis of seizure disorder
  • A diagnosis of glaucoma
  • Currently taking heparin or warfarin
05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Group A (50mg - 100mg)

    Group A will begin treatment with Milnacipran 50mg BID (n=20) during Phase I and will be increased to 100mg BID during Phase II

    Drug: Milnacipran

  • Active comparator
    Group B (50mg x12)

    Subjects in this arm will be maintained at Milnacipran 50mg BID for the entirety of the 12 weeks of the study.

    Drug: Milnacipran

  • Placebo comparator
    Group C (Placebo - 50mg)

    Group C will begin treatment with Placebo BID (n=20) during Phase I and will be given 50mg BID during Phase II

    Drug: Milnacipran · Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugMilnacipran

    50mg Milnacipran PO, BID, for 6 weeks.

    Also known as: Savella

  • DrugMilnacipran

    Milnacipran, 100mg PO, BID, for six weeks

    Also known as: Savella

  • DrugMilnacipran

    Milnacipran, 50mg PO BID for 12 weeks

    Also known as: Savella

  • DrugPlacebo

    Inactive pill, identical in shape, size, and appearance to active drug, PO, BID.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Pain Response

    Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores (range 0-100 mm; 0 = none, 100 = worst pain) were recorded for pain before the beginning of the study, at 6 weeks of treatment and at the end visit i.e. 10 weeks. Ideally, VAS would have been administered at the 12th week; however, subject was terminated at the 10th week visit. A positive pain response (ie pain relief) was defined as \>30% decrease in the VAS score between baseline and the final study visit.

    Time frame: Twelve Weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Quality of Life ( IBS-QOL)

    After six weeks of treatment with Milnacipran, treatment groups were compared with placebo for clinically significant improvement in IBS-QOL. 11 point reduction in IBS-QOL compared to baseline was considered as clinically significant improvement.

    Time frame: Six Weeks

  2. Subject Self Reported Adequate Relief of Pain

    The study sought to determine if the Milnacipran arms had a greater proportion of adequate relief over the placebo group. Subjects were asked to answer 'yes' or 'no' as to whether or not they had adequate relief of pain due to irritable bowel syndrome.

    Time frame: Twelve Weeks

  3. Treatment Efficacy Questionnaire (TEQ)

    Treatment Efficacy Questionnaire is a measure of treatment effectiveness. The score ranges from 1 to 48, 1 is minimum score and 48 is the maximum score. The investigators was looking to see if the Milnacipran treatment groups have a higher proportion of subjects with significant improvement in efficacy, judged as a TEQ score of \>28, compared to placebo group.

    Time frame: Twelve Weeks

  4. Dose Related Incremental Benefit in Pain Reduction Based on VAS

    The investigator was looking to see if, for group A, when increased from 50 mg BID to 100 mg BID there is significant improvement of pain scores i.e. 30% pain reduction, and for group C, if there was significant improvement of pain scores when switched from placebo to 50 mg BID of Milnacipran

    Time frame: 12 Weeks

07

Results

Posted Dec 24, 2013

Participant flow

The subjects were recruited from community using University of North Carolina (UNC) mass email system, newspaper advertisement and UNC gastrointestinal (GI) clinic referral.

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneGroup A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)
Started110
Completed000
Not completed110
Withdrew: Adverse event100
Withdrew: Study terminated010

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants With Pain Response

Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores (range 0-100 mm; 0 = none, 100 = worst pain) were recorded for pain before the beginning of the study, at 6 weeks of treatment and at the end visit i.e. 10 weeks. Ideally, VAS would have been administered at the 12th week; however, subject was terminated at the 10th week visit. A positive pain response (ie pain relief) was defined as \>30% decrease in the VAS score between baseline and the final study visit.

Time frame:
Twelve Weeks
Reported as:
Number · participants
Number of Participants With Pain Response
participantsGroup A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)
Number of Participants With Pain Response0——
SecondaryQuality of Life ( IBS-QOL)

After six weeks of treatment with Milnacipran, treatment groups were compared with placebo for clinically significant improvement in IBS-QOL. 11 point reduction in IBS-QOL compared to baseline was considered as clinically significant improvement.

Time frame:
Six Weeks

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

SecondarySubject Self Reported Adequate Relief of Pain

The study sought to determine if the Milnacipran arms had a greater proportion of adequate relief over the placebo group. Subjects were asked to answer 'yes' or 'no' as to whether or not they had adequate relief of pain due to irritable bowel syndrome.

Time frame:
Twelve Weeks
Reported as:
Number · percentage of participants
Subject Self Reported Adequate Relief of Pain
percentage of participantsGroup A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)
Subject Self Reported Adequate Relief of Pain0——
SecondaryTreatment Efficacy Questionnaire (TEQ)

Treatment Efficacy Questionnaire is a measure of treatment effectiveness. The score ranges from 1 to 48, 1 is minimum score and 48 is the maximum score. The investigators was looking to see if the Milnacipran treatment groups have a higher proportion of subjects with significant improvement in efficacy, judged as a TEQ score of \>28, compared to placebo group.

Time frame:
Twelve Weeks
Reported as:
Number · percentage of subject with score >28
Treatment Efficacy Questionnaire (TEQ)
percentage of subject with score >28Group A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)
Treatment Efficacy Questionnaire (TEQ)0——
SecondaryDose Related Incremental Benefit in Pain Reduction Based on VAS

The investigator was looking to see if, for group A, when increased from 50 mg BID to 100 mg BID there is significant improvement of pain scores i.e. 30% pain reduction, and for group C, if there was significant improvement of pain scores when switched from placebo to 50 mg BID of Milnacipran

Time frame:
12 Weeks
Reported as:
Number · percentage of participants
Dose Related Incremental Benefit in Pain Reduction Based on VAS
percentage of participantsGroup A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)
Dose Related Incremental Benefit in Pain Reduction Based on VAS0——

Adverse events

Collected over 3 months. Non-serious events are listed at a 1% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Group A (50mg - 100mg)—0/1 (0%)1/1 (100%)
Group B (50mg x12)—0/1 (0%)—
Group C (Placebo - 50mg)———
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventGroup A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)
hypertensionCardiac disorders1/1——

Baseline characteristics

The study was terminated early resulting in a small number of subjects enrolled leaving the ability to analyze only certain categories.

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Group A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)Total
<=18 years00—0
Between 18 and 65 years11—2
>=65 years00—0
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Group A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)Total
Mean47 ± 066 ± 0—56.5 ± 9.5
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Group A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)Total
Female11—2
Male00—0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Group A (50mg - 100mg)Group B (50mg x12)Group C (Placebo - 50mg)Total
United States11—2
08

Study locations

1 site
  • UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 13, 2017, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01471379
Lead sponsor
Spencer Dorn, MD, MPH
Collaborators
Forest Laboratories
Responsible party
Spencer Dorn, MD, MPH (Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Nov 16, 2011
Start date
Apr 2012
Primary completion
Feb 2013
Completion
Feb 2013
Results posted
Dec 24, 2013
Last update
Apr 13, 2017

Study contacts

Spencer D Dorn, MD, MPH
principal investigator · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is terminated, as verified in Mar 2017. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion