The goal of the proposed research is to improve the effectiveness of treatments for opioid and for nicotine dependence by testing a novel pharmacological strategy. Specifically, pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma receptor (PPARγ) agonist, will be used as an adjunct to agonist-based treatment.
Although treatments for opioid and for nicotine dependence exist, these medications are not universally effective as many patients are unable to stop using or relapse rapidly, suggesting that treatment with a single agent alone is insufficient to facilitate cessation of use in many patients. Targeting additional pathways that may contribute to the maintenance of drug-taking behaviors or relapse may be a more effective strategy to treat individuals resistant to first-line approaches.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
82
New York State Psychiatric Institute
New York, New York, United States
Drug's Break Point
Number of operant responses (mouse clicks) participants were willing to provide in order to receive the drug under investigation (heroin or nicotine). The Breakpoint is the point at which participants stopped responding for the drug, i.e., the total number of clicks they were willing to provide in order to receive the drug.
Time frame: Following 2 weeks of Pioglitazone (PIO) maintenance.
Measures of Subjective Drug Effects Most Commonly Indicative of Abuse Liability.
Visual analog scale ratings of "Liking" reported by the participant will be the primary endpoint (0-100 mm, 0=Not at all, 100=Extremely).
Time frame: Following 2 weeks of Pioglitazone (PIO) maintenance.
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