Effectiveness of Armodafinil for Treating Fatigue in Adults With HIV/AIDS
HIV Infections, Fatigue
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for HIV Infections focused on measuring HIV, AIDS, Armodafinil, Depression
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ages 18-75
- HIV+
- Clinically significant fatigue (score of 4.5+ on Fatigue Severity Scale, plus impairment on 1+ categories of Role Function Scale)
- Fatigue duration for 3+ months
- English-speaking
- Able to give informed consent
- Fecund women uses barrier method of contraception
Exclusion Criteria:
- Primary care doctor does not approve of study participation
- Unstable medical condition (e.g. liver failure; cirrhosis, new onset opportunistic infection in past month)
- Untreated hypogonadism, except for men for whom testosterone replacement is medically contraindicated (serum testosterone below the reference range)
- Untreated hypothyroidism (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone over 5 IUI/mL)
- Untreated and uncontrolled hypertension
- Clinically significant anemia (hematocrit <30%)
- Started testosterone or nandrolone in past 6 weeks
- Started or changed an antiretroviral regimen in past 4 weeks if fatigue predated the change; otherwise, started or changed regimen in past 2 months
- Untreated or under-treated major depressive disorder
- Started antidepressant medication within past 6 weeks
- Substance abuse/dependence (past 4 months)
- Regular and frequent cannabis use (> twice/week regularly)
- Currently clinically significant suicidal ideation or Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) score >24
- History or current psychosis or bipolar disorder
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Significant untreated insomnia (score >3 on HAM-D insomnia items)
- Currently taking psychostimulant medication or past nonresponse to modafinil
- Has no alternative viable antiretroviral regimen after the current one
- Left ventricular hypertrophy; mitral valve prolapse
Sites / Locations
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Armodafinil
Placebo
Participants will take armodafinil for 4 weeks. The dose will be titrated up from 50mg to 250mg per day as clinically indicated, using 50mg tablets. If responsive, participants will be offered 12 additional weeks of armodafinil.
Participants will receive placebo pills for 4 weeks. Placebo tablets that match the 50mg active medication tablets will given following the same dosing strategy as Arm 1. The dose will be titrated from 1 placebo tablet daily to 5 tablets daily as clinically indicated. Non-responders to placebo will then be offered 16 weeks of active medication.