The goal of this study is to test the efficacy of memantine (a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist) as an adjunct to the maintenance treatment with naltrexone in detoxified heroin-dependent individuals.
The primary aim of this study is to test the efficacy of memantine, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, in reducing early attrition and improving outcome in opioid-dependent individuals maintained on naltrexone. This double-blind, 12-week trial will include heroin-dependent patients who completed detoxification. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three conditions: naltrexone and placebo, naltrexone and memantine (15 mg bid), or naltrexone and memantine (30 mg bid). Naltrexone will be taken 3 times each week at the clinic, while memantine or placebo will be taken at home. In addition, twice each week patients will receive a psychosocial intervention that will include motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention. The goal of the psychosocial intervention is to improve compliance with medication and maintain abstinence. Baseline assessments will be taken and compared to those completed at study visits, which will occur 3 times each week.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
81
One arm receives 30 mg bid and the other arm receives receives 15mg bid
Patients received the equivalent of 50 mg/day. Dispensed as 100 mg on Mondays and Wednesdays and 150 mg on Fridays.
New York State Psychiatric Institute
New York, New York, United States
Retention in Treatment
The number of participants who were retained and completed all 12 weeks of treatment and study participation were compared between the three study groups.
Time frame: Number of participants who complete 12 weeks of treatment
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