Intranasal Oxytocin for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol Use Disorder, Alcohol Misuse
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Alcohol Use Disorder
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Have a current (past 12 months) DSM-5 diagnosis of AUD (4 or more symptoms) assessed using the MINI neuropsychiatric interview version 7.0.2 (at least moderate severity, ICD-10-CM Code F10.20 alcohol dependence, uncomplicated).
- Have a BAC by breathalyzer equal to 0.000 when s/he signed the informed consent document (either just prior to or immediately after signing consent).
- Be seeking treatment for problems with alcohol reduction in drinking.
- Be able to verbalize an understanding of the consent form, able to provide written informed consent, verbalize willingness to complete study procedures, able to understand written and oral instructions in English and able to complete the questionnaires required by the protocol.
Agree (if the subject is female and of child bearing potential) to use at least one of the following methods of birth control, unless she is surgically sterile, partner is surgically sterile or she is postmenopausal:
- oral contraceptives,
- contraceptive sponge,
- patch,
- double barrier (diaphragm/spermicidal or condom/spermicidal),
- intrauterine contraceptive system,
- etonogestrel implant,
- medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection,
- complete abstinence from sexual intercourse, and/or
- hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring.
- Be able to take intranasal investigational products and be willing to adhere to the investigational product regimen.
- Complete all assessments required at screening and baseline.
- Have a place to live in the 2 weeks prior to randomization and not be at risk that s/he will lose his/her housing by Study Week 14.
- Not anticipate any significant problems with transportation arrangements or available time to travel to the study site by Study Week 14.
- Not have any plans to move within Study Week 14 to a location which would make continued participation in the study impractical.
- Not have any unresolved legal problems that could jeopardize continuation or completion of the study.
- Provide contact information of someone, such as a family member, spouse, or significant other, who may be able to contact the subject in case of a missed clinic appointment.
- Be someone who in the opinion of the investigator would be expected to complete the study protocol.
- Agree to the schedule of visits, verbally acknowledge that s/he will be able to attend each scheduled visit, participate in phone visits and that s/he does not have any already scheduled events or a job that may substantially interfere with study participation.
If taking a medication for depression or anxiety, must have been taking a stable dose in the 2-months prior to randomization and plan to continue during the study. This includes drugs such as the following:
- SSRIs
- Dual uptake inhibitors
- SNRIs
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- MAOIs
- Bupropion
- Not currently taking oxytocin and agree not to take non-study oxytocin for the duration of the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
Contact study site for exclusion criteria.
Sites / Locations
- University of CaliforniaRecruiting
- Johns Hopkins School of MedicineRecruiting
- Boston Medical CenterRecruiting
- University of VirginiaRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Placebo Comparator
Intranasal Oxytocin
Instrasal Placebo
Oxytocin, 35 IU per dose, intranasally twice-daily. One dose is defined as intranasal spray of 100 μL per each nostril x 5 sprays in alternating nostrils with a 30 second wait between sprays for a total dose volume of 500 μL. The total daily dose of oxytocin will be 70 IU/mL.
Identically matched placebo administered intranasally twice-daily. One dose is defined as intranasal spray of 100 μL per each nostril x 5 sprays in alternating nostrils with a 30 second wait between sprays for a total dose volume of 500 μL.