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CompletedNCT02976337TMEUpdated Feb 22, 2024

Effect of High-dose Naloxone Following Third Molar Extraction

A Phase 2 interventional study of Naloxone and Normal Saline in Healthy Subjects, Hyperalgesia and Inflammations, Endodontic, sponsored by mads u werner. Completed at 1 site in Denmark. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-02-22.

Sponsored by mads u werner · Phase 2, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
23
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

Recent studies have focused on the role of endogenous opioids on central sensitization. Central sensitization is known to be impaired or altered in chronic pain conditions, as fibromyalgia or chronic tension headache.

Animal studies have shown reinstatement of mechanical hypersensitivity following naloxone administration after resolution of an injury. This suggests latent sensitization. In the present study, the investigators hypothesize that a high-dose target-controlled naloxone infusion (total dose: 3.25 mg/kg) can reinstate pain and hyperalgesia 6-8 weeks after a unilateral primary open groin hernia repair procedure. The investigators aim to show that latent sensitization is present in humans and is modulated by endogenous opioids.

Read the detailed description

Naloxone is a combined mu-opioid-receptor (MOR) inverse agonist and antagonist drug, which dose-dependently demonstrates hypoalgesic and hyperalgesic properties. Systemically administrated naloxone (3.0-10.0 mg/kg) and naltrexone (0.3-3.0 mg/kg) have been used in rodents to study the role of endogenous opioids on central processing of pain. It has been hypothesized that the endogenous opioid modulation of pain is impaired or altered in chronic pain conditions. Administration of naloxone and naltrexone following resolution of an inflammatory injury, have demonstrated a reinstatement of hypersensitivity to noxious stimuli, indicating a demasking of latent sensitization. It has thus been speculated that the endogenous opioid system may play an important role in the transition of acute to chronic pain in humans.

In an early human study using an electrical pain model, naloxone (21 microg/kg) increased the established area of secondary hyperalgesia (a measure of central sensitization).

In a previous translational placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, cross-over study in healthy humans, the investigators were unable to show naloxone-induced reinstatement of secondary hyperalgesia after resolution of a first-degree burn-injury (BI; H-2-2012-036). The investigators hypothesized, that the negative results were attributable to the low dose of naloxone (21 microg/kg) or perhaps insufficient tissue injury to generate latent sensitization.

The investigators therefore in a sequel study administered a higher dose of naloxone (2 mg/kg) 7 days after induction of a BI. The investigators demonstrated in 4 out of 12 subjects reinstatement of secondary hyperalgesia. The magnitude of reinstatement was more pronounced in high-sensitizers (subjects developing large secondary hyperalgesia areas immediately after the BI) The aims of the present clinical study in patients are first, to replicate our previous findings of naloxone-induced (3.25 mg/kg) unmasking of latent sensitization utilizing the impacted mandibular third molar extraction (TME) model with a more pronounced tissue injury than the BI-model. The endpoints are reinstatement of pain and hyperalgesia in the resolution-phase, 4 - 5 weeks after TME-surgery. Second, the study examines a potential dose-response relationship between three stable naloxone concentrations acquired by target controlled infusion (TCI).

02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy Subjects
  • Hyperalgesia
  • Inflammations, Endodontic
  • Pain, Acute
  • Sensitization, Central

Keywords

  • Central sensitization
  • Endogenous opioids
  • Humans
  • Latent sensitization
  • Mandibular third molar extraction
  • Naloxone
  • Pain
  • Pressure algometry
  • Randomized controlled trial
  • Secondary hyperalgesia
  • Target controlled infusion
03

In context

Hyperalgesia

166 studies on the registry are indexed under Hyperalgesia; 14 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 23 is below the median of 50 across 142 interventional studies indexed under Hyperalgesia.

Browse Hyperalgesia studies →

Lead sponsor

mads u werner is the lead sponsor of 4 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

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

  • Healthy male
  • Age, minimum 18 yrs and maximum 65 yrs
  • Signed
  • Participants submitted to unilateral, primary, impacted, uncomplicated mandibular third molar extraction 4 weeks (+ 3 days) prior to examination Day 1.
  • Standardized surgical procedure.
  • Urin-sample without traces of opioids (morphine, methadon, buprenorphine, codeine, tramadol, ketobemidone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, dextromethorphan)
  • (BMI): 18 \< BMI \< 30 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Participants, who do not speak or understand Danish
  • Participants, who cannot cooperate with the investigation
  • Participants, who have had previous surgery in the mandibular region
  • Participants with pain at rest > 3 (NRS [0: no pain; 10: worst perceivable pain])
  • Activity-related pain in the surgical field > 5 (NRS)
  • Allergic reaction against morphine or other opioids (including naloxone),
  • Abuse of alcohol or drugs - according to investigator's evaluation
  • Use of psychotropic drugs (exception of SSRI)
  • Neurologic or psychiatric disease
  • Chronic pain condition
  • Regular use of analgesic drugs
  • Skin lesions or tattoos in the assessment areas
  • Nerve lesions in the assessment sites (e.g., after trauma, dental surgery)
  • Use of prescription drugs one week before the trial
  • Use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs 48 hours before the trial
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

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.

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.

ASA physical status

The anaesthetists’ scale of health before surgery: I is healthy, II has a mild illness that is under control, III a severe one, IV a severe illness that is a constant threat to life. V and VI are used for the critically ill and for organ donors.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
23 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    High-dose naloxone

    Naloxone 4 mg/ml i.v. infusion, total 3.25 mg/kg, target controlled infusion with three infusion rates (0.25 mg/kg; 0.75 mg/kg; 2.25 mg/kg) each of 25 min duration)

    Drug: Naloxone

  • Placebo comparator
    Normal saline

    0.9% physiological saline, i.v. infusion, total 0.81 ml/kg, target controlled infusion with three infusion rates (0.06 ml/kg; 0.19 ml/kg; 0.56 ml/kg) each of 25 min duration.

    Drug: Normal Saline

Interventions

  • active drug infusion

    Also known as: Naloxon "B. Braun"

  • DrugNormal Saline

    placebo comparator

    Also known as: Physiologic Saline

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in the composite measure of pain (numerical rating scale (NRS); 0 = no pain; 10 = worst perceivable pain)

    during rest + masticatory pain + pain during external algometry (100 kPa) at the injury site

    Time frame: 1st session: 4 weeks after TME-surgery; 2nd session: 1 week later. At each session assessments are made at: -20 to -8 min; 15 to 25 min (TCI-step 1); 40 to 50 min (TCI-step 2); and 65 to 75 min (TCI-step 3) relative to start of TCI.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Secondary hyperalgesia/allodynia area at mandibular skin sites directly overlying surgical and contralateral side

    Hyperalgesia/allodynia assessments with nylon monofilament (nominal value 4.93 \[bending force: mean +/- SD = 69 +/- 14 mN\]

    Time frame: 1st session: 4 weeks after TME-surgery; 2nd session: 1 week later. At each session assessments are made at: -20 to -8 min; 15 to 25 min (TCI-step 1); 40 to 50 min (TCI-step 2); and 65 to 75 min (TCI-step 3) relative to start of TCI.

  2. Online Reaction Time

    measured using http://getyourwebsiteherecom/jswb/rttest01.htm. This computer-application shows a red-green traffic light. Participants are instructed to press the button when the light changes from red to green. Three measurements are used and the median value is used as a representative estimate of reaction time.

    Time frame: 1st session: 4 weeks after TME-surgery; 2nd session: 1 week later. At each session assessments are made at: -20 to -8 min; 15 to 25 min (TCI-step 1); 40 to 50 min (TCI-step 2); and 65 to 75 min (TCI-step 3) relative to start of TCI.

  3. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

    HADS is used to assess anxiety and signs of depression. Based on 14 questions about the subject's status in the previous week, HADS measures agitation/anxiety and depression via two subscales (each containing seven questions). Participants have to answer each question on a scale of 0 to 3. The two subscales are summed separately. The maximum score of each subscale is 21 points and a score of 11 or more points suggests that the participant might be suffering from anxiety or depression. In case of score \> 11 points in the depression subscale of the HADS, a physician will decide if there are clinical signs of depression. If there are signs of depression, this diagnosis will be told to the participant. The participant will be informed that the diagnosis of depression is based on clinical assessments - the HADS scale can be included in the diagnostic procedure. If it is the participants wish, he should visit his general practitioner for diagnosis and eventual treatment.

    Time frame: 1st session: 4 weeks after TME-surgery; 2nd session: 1 week later. Only pre-infusion

  4. Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS)

    PCS consists of 13 questions divided into three sections: rumination, exaggeration and helplessness. The questions are answered in accordance to a scale of 0 to 4. There is evidence of catastrophizing thoughts at a total score \> 30 points.

    Time frame: 1st session: 4 weeks after TME-surgery; 2nd session: 1 week later. Only pre-infusion

  5. Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS)

    The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) is an examiner-based scale evaluating signs of opioid-withdrawal. Grading of symptoms, i.e. heart rate changes, sweating, restlessness, pupil size, bone or joint aches, running nose or tearing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremor, yawning, anxiety or irritability and "goose-flesh", are made in 11 categories. COWS-scores are divided into: 5-12 = mild; 13-24 = moderate; 25-36 = moderately severe ;\> 36 = severe withdrawal reactions.

    Time frame: 1st session: 4 weeks after TME-surgery; 2nd session: 1 week later. At each session assessments are made at: -20 to -8 min; 15 to 25 min (TCI-step 1); 40 to 50 min (TCI-step 2); and 65 to 75 min (TCI-step 3) relative to start of TCI.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Neuroscience Center, Copenhagen University Hospital
    Copenhagen, 2200, Denmark
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Brennum J, Kaiser F, Dahl JB. Effect of naloxone on primary and secondary hyperalgesia induced by the human burn injury model. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2001 Sep;45(8):954-60. doi: 10.1034/j.1399-6576.2001.450806.x. PubMed 11576045 ↗
  • Pielsticker A, Haag G, Zaudig M, Lautenbacher S. Impairment of pain inhibition in chronic tension-type headache. Pain. 2005 Nov;118(1-2):215-23. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2005.08.019. Epub 2005 Oct 3. PubMed 16202520 ↗
  • Price DD, Staud R, Robinson ME, Mauderli AP, Cannon R, Vierck CJ. Enhanced temporal summation of second pain and its central modulation in fibromyalgia patients. Pain. 2002 Sep;99(1-2):49-59. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3959(02)00053-2. PubMed 12237183 ↗
  • van Wilgen CP, Keizer D. The sensitization model to explain how chronic pain exists without tissue damage. Pain Manag Nurs. 2012 Mar;13(1):60-5. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2010.03.001. Epub 2010 Jul 22. PubMed 22341140 ↗
  • Koppert W, Filitz J, Troster A, Ihmsen H, Angst M, Flor H, Schuttler J, Schmelz M. Activation of naloxone-sensitive and -insensitive inhibitory systems in a human pain model. J Pain. 2005 Nov;6(11):757-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2005.07.002. PubMed 16275600 ↗
  • Campillo A, Cabanero D, Romero A, Garcia-Nogales P, Puig MM. Delayed postoperative latent pain sensitization revealed by the systemic administration of opioid antagonists in mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2011 Apr 25;657(1-3):89-96. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2011.01.059. Epub 2011 Feb 4. PubMed 21300053 ↗
  • Taylor BK, Corder G. Endogenous analgesia, dependence, and latent pain sensitization. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2014;20:283-325. doi: 10.1007/7854_2014_351. PubMed 25227929 ↗
  • Corder G, Doolen S, Donahue RR, Winter MK, Jutras BL, He Y, Hu X, Wieskopf JS, Mogil JS, Storm DR, Wang ZJ, McCarson KE, Taylor BK. Constitutive mu-opioid receptor activity leads to long-term endogenous analgesia and dependence. Science. 2013 Sep 20;341(6152):1394-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1239403. Erratum In: Science. 2013 Nov 8;342(6159):693. PubMed 24052307 ↗
  • Pereira MP, Werner MU, Ringsted TK, Rowbotham MC, Taylor BK, Dahl JB. Does naloxone reinstate secondary hyperalgesia in humans after resolution of a burn injury? A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. PLoS One. 2013 May 31;8(5):e64608. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064608. Print 2013. PubMed 23741350 ↗
  • Pereira MP, Donahue RR, Dahl JB, Werner M, Taylor BK, Werner MU. Endogenous Opioid-Masked Latent Pain Sensitization: Studies from Mouse to Human. PLoS One. 2015 Aug 25;10(8):e0134441. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134441. eCollection 2015. PubMed 26305798 ↗
  • Edwards RR, Ness TJ, Fillingim RB. Endogenous opioids, blood pressure, and diffuse noxious inhibitory controls: a preliminary study. Percept Mot Skills. 2004 Oct;99(2):679-87. doi: 10.2466/pms.99.2.679-687. PubMed 15560360 ↗
  • Singla NK, Desjardins PJ, Chang PD. A comparison of the clinical and experimental characteristics of four acute surgical pain models: dental extraction, bunionectomy, joint replacement, and soft tissue surgery. Pain. 2014 Mar;155(3):441-456. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.09.002. Epub 2013 Sep 6. PubMed 24012952 ↗
  • Glass PS, Jhaveri RM, Smith LR. Comparison of potency and duration of action of nalmefene and naloxone. Anesth Analg. 1994 Mar;78(3):536-41. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199403000-00021. PubMed 8109774 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Data will be made available as a supplementum to the published scientific article. Anticipated available in Spring 2018.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 22, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02976337
Lead sponsor
mads u werner
Collaborators
University of Kentucky
Responsible party
mads u werner (Associate professor, University of Copenhagen) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Nov 29, 2016
Start date
Oct 12, 2017
Primary completion
Nov 27, 2023
Completion
Dec 27, 2023
Last update
Feb 22, 2024

Study contacts

Mads U Werner, MD, DMSc
principal investigator · Neuroscience Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
Bradley K Taylor, M.Sc., Ph.D.
study chair · Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky Medical Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drug tested here: Naloxone

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