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CompletedNCT03435614SOWA-ICUUpdated Jan 1, 2025Results posted

Signs and Symptoms of Opioid-associated Iatrogenic Withdrawal in Critically Ill Adults

An observational study in Substance Withdrawal Syndrome, sponsored by Marc M. Perreault. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-01-01.

Sponsored by Marc M. Perreault · Observational

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Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
29
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Mechanically ventilated critically ill adults may require prolonged administration of opioids to facilitate ventilator support and maintain comfort. The prolonged use has been associated with withdrawal symptoms upon rapid weaning in critically ill patients, known as the opioid-associated withdrawal syndrome (OIWS). Such withdrawal symptoms are well described in the paediatric population, however there is a lack of information in the adult population. Currently there is no bedside tool to rapidly identify such patients. Recognition of withdrawal symptoms is the basis for the development of an assessment tool to identify patients with OIWS.

Read the detailed description

Objectives:

  1. To identify specific signs and symptoms of OIWS in mechanically ventilated adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving at least 72 hours of regular opioids at the Montreal General Hospital (MGH) and the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) from February to October 2018.
  2. To determine if a change in serum cortisol is associated with the presence of OIWS.

Hypotheses:

  1. Considering our first objective is purely descriptive, no hypothesis can be stated.
  2. OIWS is associated with an increase in serum cortisol.

Methods:

A prospective multicentre observational study will be carried out in two university-affiliated hospital ICUs (Montreal General Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital). All mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients receiving regular (continuous or intermittent) opioids for more than 72 hours will be prospectively screened daily for withdrawal symptoms once the opioid dose is reduced by 10% or more. From that moment, daily evaluation by a physician using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) criteria for opioid withdrawal will be conducted. Concomitantly, signs and symptoms of withdrawal will be collected by an investigator blinded to the DSM-5 assessment. These assessments will continue daily until the patient is transferred out of ICU or a maximum of 14 days and will be repeated once more between day 1 and day 4 post-transfer out of ICU.

A serum cortisol will be drawn on the first day of dose reduction by 10% or more (baseline) and will be repeated either after 72 hours or upon patient discharge from the ICU, whichever one occurs first.

02

Conditions studied

  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

Keywords

  • Opioid
  • Withdrawal
  • Critically ill adults
  • Cortisol
03

In context

Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

74 studies on the registry are indexed under Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; 7 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 29 is below the median of 115 across 15 observational studies indexed under Substance Withdrawal Syndrome.

Browse Substance Withdrawal Syndrome studies →

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Marc M. Perreault as lead sponsor.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Probability sample

Study population

Mechanically ventilated adult ICU patients receiving continuous or regular intermittent opioids for more than 72 hours.

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

  • Patients requiring mechanical ventilation and receiving continuous or regular intermittent opioids for at least 72 hours.
  • Weaning of at least 10% from previous stable opioid dose. A weaning episode is defined as a ≥ 10% decrease in the total stable opioid dose received over 4 hours for opioid infusions and over 12 hours for intermittent opioid administration.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient for whom consent cannot be obtained
  • Patient and/or family unable to communicate in French or English
  • Patient who is deaf without appropriate hearing aid
  • Imminent and predictable death (\< 72 hours) according to medical team
  • Severe brain injury, defined as Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 8 or less at ICU admission
  • Moderate brain injury, defined as GCS between 9 and 12, with elevated intracranial pressure (ICP > 20 mmHg) which requires ICP monitoring and osmotherapy
  • Acute neurological condition (e.g. status epilepticus, encephalopathy, stroke). If the acute neurological condition resolves within 72 hours, the patient may be included in the study.
  • Substance abuse prior to ICU admission.

    • Chronic alcohol use defined as alcohol consumption of more than 2 drinks/day and/or more than 14 drinks/week for men and 9 drinks/week for women.
    • Chronic use of illicit drugs and amphetamines (except amphetamines taken for therapeutic purposes) defined as a consumption of at least 3 times per week.
    • Chronic use of opioids (e.g. transdermal fentanyl, methadone, hydromorphone, etc.) defined as a consumption of at least 3 times per week.
  • Readmission to the MGH or RVH ICU during the recruitment period (limit of one study entry per patient)
  • Spinal cord injury above the lumbar region
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
29 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Critically ill patients

    Mechanically ventilated critically ill adults receiving regular opioids for more than 72 hours will be prospectively followed for the emergence of withdrawal symptoms upon weaning of opioids.

    Drug: Opioids

Interventions

  • Once an opioid dose reduction of 10% or greater is achieved, a daily assessment will be conducted by a physician using the DSM-5 criteria for opioid withdrawal. In addition, signs and symptoms of withdrawal will be collected daily by a blinded investigator.

    Also known as: Analgesics, Narcotics

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Description of Signs and Symptoms of OIWS in Patients Who Scored Positive for Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Criteria

    Percentage of daily assessments associated with each of the following signs and symptoms experienced by patients with and without OIWS (Restlessness (Richmond Agitation-Sedation scale = 1), Agitation (RASS \> 1), Anxiety, Hallucinations, Insomnia/sleep disturbance (\< 4 hours of continuous sleep), Mydriasis (Pupil diameter \> 2 mm) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 140 mmHg. These assessments were performed once daily. Note that for the group of patients experiencing IWS, the data on signs and symptoms are limited to the assessment on the day that patients experienced OIWS. The signs and symptoms presented (Restlessness; Agitation; Anxiety, Hallucinations, Insomnia/sleep disturbance; mydriasis; SBP \> 140) were selected based on a \> 15 % absolute difference between both groups which was judged to be clinically significant.

    Time frame: From first day of opioid dose reduction until transfer out of Intensive care unit (ICU) or a maximum of 14 days, including one further assessment post-ICU transfer

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Serum Cortisol Level

    Cortisol level were drawn on the first day of opioid weaning and repeated 72 hours after onset of weaning

    Time frame: Baseline cortisol on first day of opioid dose reduction and on day 3 post-dose reduction, or on day of transfer out of ICU if patient is transferred before day 3.

07

Results

Posted Jan 28, 2021

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneIatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (IWS) PositiveIatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (IWS) Negative
Started623
Completed623
Not completed00

Outcome measures

PrimaryDescription of Signs and Symptoms of OIWS in Patients Who Scored Positive for Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Criteria

Percentage of daily assessments associated with each of the following signs and symptoms experienced by patients with and without OIWS (Restlessness (Richmond Agitation-Sedation scale = 1), Agitation (RASS \> 1), Anxiety, Hallucinations, Insomnia/sleep disturbance (\< 4 hours of continuous sleep), Mydriasis (Pupil diameter \> 2 mm) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 140 mmHg. These assessments were performed once daily. Note that for the group of patients experiencing IWS, the data on signs and symptoms are limited to the assessment on the day that patients experienced OIWS. The signs and symptoms presented (Restlessness; Agitation; Anxiety, Hallucinations, Insomnia/sleep disturbance; mydriasis; SBP \> 140) were selected based on a \> 15 % absolute difference between both groups which was judged to be clinically significant.

Time frame:
From first day of opioid dose reduction until transfer out of Intensive care unit (ICU) or a maximum of 14 days, including one further assessment post-ICU transfer
Reported as:
Number · percentage of assessments
Description of Signs and Symptoms of OIWS in Patients Who Scored Positive for Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Criteria
percentage of assessmentsIWS PositiveIWS Negative
Restlessness (RASS = 1)28.613.6
Agitation (RASS > 1)28.64.9
Anxiety57.130.6
Hallucinations28.611.2
Insomnia/Sleep disturbance (< 4 hours of continuous sleep)66.721.4
Mydriasis (pupil size > 2mm)10077.8
Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) > 140 mmHg85.753
Statistical analysis
  • IWS Positive vs IWS Negative ·
SecondaryChange in Serum Cortisol Level

Cortisol level were drawn on the first day of opioid weaning and repeated 72 hours after onset of weaning

Time frame:
Baseline cortisol on first day of opioid dose reduction and on day 3 post-dose reduction, or on day of transfer out of ICU if patient is transferred before day 3.
Reported as:
Median · nmol/L
Change in Serum Cortisol Level
nmol/LIWS PositiveIWS Negative
Change in Serum Cortisol Level-146-37 (-62 to 93)

Adverse events

Collected over Symptom assessments were collected daily until transfer out of ICU, death or 14 days after start of patient remained in ICU; If patient was transferred, one additional data was collected up to 96 hours post-transfer out of ICU. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Critically Ill Patients0/29 (0%)0/29 (0%)0/29 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

1128 patients screened; 59 eligible as per entry criteria; 29 enrolled and included in the analysis

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Opioid Iatrogenic WIthdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Positive PatientsOpioid Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Negative PatientsTotal
Median70 (62.0 to 77.3)64 (44.0 to 74.0)65 (47.5 to 75.0)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Opioid Iatrogenic WIthdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Positive PatientsOpioid Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Negative PatientsTotal
Female268
Male41721
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race/Ethnicity, Customized(Participants)Opioid Iatrogenic WIthdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Positive PatientsOpioid Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Negative PatientsTotal
Caucasian61723
Hispanic022
Black022
MIddle Eastern022
Serum Creatinine at ICU admission (umol/L)
Serum Creatinine at ICU admission (umol/L)(umol/L)Opioid Iatrogenic WIthdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Positive PatientsOpioid Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Negative PatientsTotal
Median124 (78 to 307)136 (71 to 223)132 (74 to 222)
Reason for ICU admission (ICD-10)
Reason for ICU admission (ICD-10)(Participants)Opioid Iatrogenic WIthdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Positive PatientsOpioid Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Negative PatientsTotal
Diseases of the circulatory system167
External causes of morbidity and mortality (trauma)156
Infectious and parasitic diseases055
Diseases of the digestive system325
Diseases of the respiratory system044
Other112
Length of ICU stay
Length of ICU stay(Days)Opioid Iatrogenic WIthdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Positive PatientsOpioid Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Negative PatientsTotal
Median16.5 (9.5 to 38.0)16 (9.0 to 34.0)16.0 (9.0 to 35.0)
Duration of mechanical ventilation
Duration of mechanical ventilation(Days)Opioid Iatrogenic WIthdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Positive PatientsOpioid Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Negative PatientsTotal
Median9.0 (7.3 to 37.3)9.0 (5.0 to 26.0)9.0 (5.5 to 27.0)
Co-morbidities
Co-morbidities(participants)Opioid Iatrogenic WIthdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Positive PatientsOpioid Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome (OIWS) Negative PatientsTotal
Hypertension31215
Coronary artery disease21113
Diabetes189
Chronic kidney disease156
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease246
Other3912

2 further baseline measures are reported on the registry.

08

Study locations

1 site
  • McGill University Health Centre
    Montréal, Quebec H4A3J1, Canada
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Chiu AW, Contreras S, Mehta S, Korman J, Perreault MM, Williamson DR, Burry LD. Iatrogenic Opioid Withdrawal in Critically Ill Patients: A Review of Assessment Tools and Management. Ann Pharmacother. 2017 Dec;51(12):1099-1111. doi: 10.1177/1060028017724538. Epub 2017 Aug 9. PubMed 28793780 ↗
  • Wang PP, Huang E, Feng X, Bray CA, Perreault MM, Rico P, Bellemare P, Murgoi P, Gelinas C, Lecavalier A, Jayaraman D, Frenette AJ, Williamson D. Opioid-associated iatrogenic withdrawal in critically ill adult patients: a multicenter prospective observational study. Ann Intensive Care. 2017 Sep 2;7(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s13613-017-0310-5. PubMed 28866754 ↗
  • Cammarano WB, Pittet JF, Weitz S, Schlobohm RM, Marks JD. Acute withdrawal syndrome related to the administration of analgesic and sedative medications in adult intensive care unit patients. Crit Care Med. 1998 Apr;26(4):676-84. doi: 10.1097/00003246-199804000-00015. PubMed 9559604 ↗

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Feb 2018 to primary completion in Sep 2018, 7 months.

Results were first posted in Jan 2021, 2 years 3 months after primary completion.

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

Registered
Feb 9, 2018
First posted
Feb 19, 2018
StartActual
Feb 26, 2018
Primary completionActual
Sep 30, 2018
CompletionActual
Sep 30, 2018
Results first posted
Jan 28, 2021
Last update
Jan 1, 2025
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
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 1, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03435614
Lead sponsor
Marc M. Perreault
Responsible party
Marc M. Perreault (Pharmacist, McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Feb 19, 2018
Start date
Feb 26, 2018
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2018
Completion
Sep 30, 2018
Results posted
Jan 28, 2021
Last update
Jan 1, 2025

Study contacts

Marie-Soleil Delisle, MSc
principal investigator · McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Marc M Perreault, PharmD
principal investigator · McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Marc-Alexandre Duceppe, MSc
principal investigator · McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre

Oversight

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

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This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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