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D-cycloserine in the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain

Primary Purpose

Low Back Pain, Pain

Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
D-cycloserine
placebo
Sponsored by
Thomas J. Schnitzer
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Low Back Pain focused on measuring chronic pain, low back pain, D-cycloserine

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria: Must have a history of low back pain for a minimum of 6 months with or without radiation of pain to leg or buttocks. Must be 18 years of age. Must have a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score >50 mm Must be in generally stable health Must be willing to abstain from drinking alcohol during the course of the study. If female, must be post-menopausal for at least one year or practicing an accepted, highly effective method of contraception or abstinence and plan to continue either during the course of the study. Must be able and willing to read and understand instructions as well as questionnaires Must sign an informed consent document after complete explanation of the study documenting that they understand the purpose of the study, procedures to be undertaken, possible benefits, potential risks, and are willing to participate. Exclusion Criteria: Low back pain associated with any systemic signs or symptoms, e.g., fever, chills. Evidence of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute vertebral fractures, fibromyalgia, history of surgery or tumor in the back. Involvement in litigation regarding their back pain or have a disability claim or are receiving workman's compensation or seeking either as a result of their low back pain Neurologic disorder, including history of seizures Major psychiatric disorder during the past 6 months Moderate or severe depression as determined by the Beck Depression Inventory or any active suicidal ideation Significant other medical disease such as unstable diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, coronary or peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, or malignancy Significant renal disease or severe renal insufficiency History of, or current, substance abuse/dependence including alcohol Significantly abnormal laboratory values Pregnant or lactating at any time during the course of the study Known sensitivity to D-cycloserine Currently taking any of the following medications: ethionamide, dilantin, isoniazid (INH), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) In the judgment of the investigator, unable or unwilling to follow the protocol and instructions Any change in medication for back pain in the last 30 days.

Sites / Locations

  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

1

2

Arm Description

D-cycloserine 50mg bid/100mg bid/200 mg bid

placebo

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Change in Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11)
Change in NRS score after 6 weeks of treatment as compared to baseline. The numeric rating scale is an 11-point rating scale wherein participants rated their current lower back pain intensity on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 meaning no pain and 10 being the worst pain possible. Thus, a larger negative number indicates positive change and a higher efficacy.

Secondary Outcome Measures

McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)
Change in MPQ score after 6 weeks of treatment as compared to baseline. The MPQ score uses a Pain Rating Index from 0 to 20 where 0 is evidence of no pain and 20 indicates the highest pain possible. A lower score is also indicative of a lower quality of pain. Thus, a larger negative number indicates positive change and therefore higher efficacy.

Full Information

First Posted
July 29, 2005
Last Updated
December 16, 2016
Sponsor
Thomas J. Schnitzer
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT00125528
Brief Title
D-cycloserine in the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain
Official Title
D-Cycloserine in the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
December 2016
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
July 2012 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
April 2014 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
November 2014 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor-Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Thomas J. Schnitzer

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Pre-clinical studies in rats suggest that D-cycloserine (DCS) is effective in the management of chronic neuropathic pain. This pilot study will attempt to determine the effect of D-cycloserine in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Other aims of this study are to determine the safety of D-cycloserine in the treatment of chronic low back pain and to determine which pain measurement scales are best at measuring the efficacy of treatment.
Detailed Description
Human brain imaging studies indicate that the medial prefrontal cortex activity can predict more than 80% of the variance of chronic back pain intensity. Therefore, the investigators have hypothesized that modulation of brain activity at this site should result in analgesia. D-cycloserine has been shown to potentiate conditioned fear extinction. Based on this the investigators hypothesize that chronic neuropathic pain (back pain with radiculopathy) is partially mediated or potentiated by decreased ability to extinguish the pain memory, which the investigators hypothesize to be mediated through reward/aversion brain circuitry, and specifically through medial prefrontal cortex. They have tested this idea in pre-clinical studies and demonstrated that rats with neuropathic pain show analgesia over the long-term when treated with D-cycloserine. In humans with chronic back pain, the investigators hypothesize that D-cycloserine will enhance extinction of back pain which in turn should result in reduced emotional relevance of the pain, that is reduced suffering. It is quite possible that the overall intensity of the back pain will be unaffected, however, the associated suffering will be significantly attenuated. This will be a double-blind, randomized, parallel group escalating dose study comparing D-cycloserine twice a day (bid) with placebo bid in patients with chronic low back pain. Subjects meeting inclusion criteria will continue baseline medications and be treated for 12 weeks with study drug: 50 mg bid DCS or matching placebo for the first 4 weeks, then 100mg bid DCS or matching placebo for 4 weeks and finally 200mg bid DCS or matching placebo for 4 weeks. Assessments of efficacy and safety will be undertaken every 2 weeks using standard, validated instruments to evaluate change in pain, function, quality of life and adverse events.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Low Back Pain, Pain
Keywords
chronic pain, low back pain, D-cycloserine

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantInvestigatorOutcomes Assessor
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
41 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
1
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
D-cycloserine 50mg bid/100mg bid/200 mg bid
Arm Title
2
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
placebo
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
D-cycloserine
Intervention Description
D-cycloserine 50 mg bid; D-cycloserine 100 mg bid; D-cycloserine 200 mg bid
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
placebo
Intervention Description
placebo bid
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change in Numeric Rating Scale (NRS-11)
Description
Change in NRS score after 6 weeks of treatment as compared to baseline. The numeric rating scale is an 11-point rating scale wherein participants rated their current lower back pain intensity on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 meaning no pain and 10 being the worst pain possible. Thus, a larger negative number indicates positive change and a higher efficacy.
Time Frame
6 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ)
Description
Change in MPQ score after 6 weeks of treatment as compared to baseline. The MPQ score uses a Pain Rating Index from 0 to 20 where 0 is evidence of no pain and 20 indicates the highest pain possible. A lower score is also indicative of a lower quality of pain. Thus, a larger negative number indicates positive change and therefore higher efficacy.
Time Frame
6 weeks

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Must have a history of low back pain for a minimum of 6 months with or without radiation of pain to leg or buttocks. Must be 18 years of age. Must have a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score >50 mm Must be in generally stable health Must be willing to abstain from drinking alcohol during the course of the study. If female, must be post-menopausal for at least one year or practicing an accepted, highly effective method of contraception or abstinence and plan to continue either during the course of the study. Must be able and willing to read and understand instructions as well as questionnaires Must sign an informed consent document after complete explanation of the study documenting that they understand the purpose of the study, procedures to be undertaken, possible benefits, potential risks, and are willing to participate. Exclusion Criteria: Low back pain associated with any systemic signs or symptoms, e.g., fever, chills. Evidence of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, acute vertebral fractures, fibromyalgia, history of surgery or tumor in the back. Involvement in litigation regarding their back pain or have a disability claim or are receiving workman's compensation or seeking either as a result of their low back pain Neurologic disorder, including history of seizures Major psychiatric disorder during the past 6 months Moderate or severe depression as determined by the Beck Depression Inventory or any active suicidal ideation Significant other medical disease such as unstable diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, coronary or peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, or malignancy Significant renal disease or severe renal insufficiency History of, or current, substance abuse/dependence including alcohol Significantly abnormal laboratory values Pregnant or lactating at any time during the course of the study Known sensitivity to D-cycloserine Currently taking any of the following medications: ethionamide, dilantin, isoniazid (INH), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) In the judgment of the investigator, unable or unwilling to follow the protocol and instructions Any change in medication for back pain in the last 30 days.
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Thomas J Schnitzer, M.D., Ph.D.
Organizational Affiliation
Northwestern University
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Vania Apkarian, Ph.D.
Organizational Affiliation
Northwestern University
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
City
Chicago
State/Province
Illinois
ZIP/Postal Code
60611
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
27852965
Citation
Schnitzer TJ, Torbey S, Herrmann K, Kaushal G, Yeasted R, Vania Apkarian A. A randomized placebo-controlled pilot study of the efficacy and safety of D-cycloserine in people with chronic back pain. Mol Pain. 2016 Nov 15;12:1744806916678627. doi: 10.1177/1744806916678627. Print 2016.
Results Reference
result
Links:
URL
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5117251/pdf/10.1177_1744806916678627.pdf
Description
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D-cycloserine in the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain

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