A Phase 2 interventional study of N-acetyl cysteine and Placebo in Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder, sponsored by Medical University of South Carolina. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.
Sponsored by Medical University of South Carolina · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This study will evaluate N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in adults with bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive NAC or matched placebo for 28 days. The study includes five visits and three MRI brain imaging scans. Questionnaires, clinical interviews, alcohol and drug assessments, laboratory testing, and monitoring for possible side effects will be completed during study visits.
This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group mechanistic clinical trial will evaluate adjunctive N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in adults with co-occurring bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder. The study is designed to examine whether NAC changes dorsal anterior cingulate cortex glutamate and glutathione homeostasis and brain activation to alcohol cues, and whether those changes are associated with reductions in heavy drinking and depressive symptoms. Participants will complete a baseline evaluation, a pretreatment MRI visit, MRI visits at 14 and 28 days after treatment begins, and a safety visit within 72 hours after the day 28 visit. Study procedures include clinical interviews, self-report questionnaires, alcohol and drug assessments, blood and urine collection, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and functional MRI. Treatment assignment details, intervention records, and outcome-measure records are intentionally left for study-team completion.
1,683 studies on the registry are indexed under Bipolar Disorder; 266 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 70 is close to the median of 64 across 1,279 interventional studies indexed under Bipolar Disorder.
Browse Bipolar Disorder studies →Medical University of South Carolina is the lead sponsor of 874 studies on the registry; 166 are open to participants now.
Of its 131 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 104 (79%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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.
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.
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Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
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.
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.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Clinically significant
Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
After group assignment but before taking any study medication, participants will have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam after completing various assessments (clinical interview, questionnaires, etc.). Group A will receive N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) 2 times a day for a total of 28 days. They will have follow up MRIs on day 14 and 28.
Drug: N-acetyl cysteine
After group assignment but before taking any study medication, participants will have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam after completing various assessments (clinical interview, questionnaires, etc.). Group B will receive Placebo 2 times a day for a total of 28 days. They will have follow up MRIs on day 14 and 28.
Drug: Placebo
28 days of NAC taken 2 times per day with MRI on days 1 (pre medication dosing), 14, and 28
28 days of Placebo taken 2 times per day with MRI on days 1 (pre medication dosing), 14, and 28
Change in dACC glutamate/glutathione levels through Proton Magnetic Resonance
Concentrations of glutamate and glutathione in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex will be measured on day 1, 14, and 28.
Time frame: Baseline to end of treatment, approximately 28 days
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Acetylcysteine
Medical University of South Carolina →