Low Dose Naltrexone in Symptomatic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital

Overview

The investigators will be looking at the efficacy of the use of once daily use of low dose naltrexone (4.5mg) in subjects with symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease.

The investigators will compare the use of daily low dose naltrexone (LDN) (4.5 mg) compared with placebo in subjects that have symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our subjects will be those with diagnosed with IBD and are symptomatic, defined by an inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ) score \< 170. The subjects will be randomly assigned either placebo or LDN. They will take the IBDQ prior to starting the trial, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months after starting the medication. Participants have to remain on their current IBD regimen throughout the trial and cannot make any changes within 4 weeks of starting the trial. The investigators will have a safety phone call at 6 weeks and a follow up letter at 12 weeks after starting the trial. The participants will be given a card to keep with them with a phone number and email address if any adverse effects arise.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Conditions

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis

Interventions

Low dose naltrexoneDRUG

4.5 mg daily for 12 weeeks

PlaceboDRUG

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with symptomatic Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (defined as a response to the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire less than 170) * Confirmed Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis through radiographic, endoscopic and/or histologic criteria * On a stable dose of medication for IBD (i.e. no change in medication within 4 weeks of study enrollment) * Age 18 or older Exclusion Criteria: * Patients on opioids or immodium within 7 days of starting the investigational therapy * Women who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant within the next year * Patients on Lomotil or opioid analgesics * Patients already on low dose naltrexone * Women of child bearing age not willing to use contraception or abstinence * A history of the following diseases or procedures: * Acute hepatitis * Liver failure * Ileoanal anastomosis * Short bowel syndrome * Abnormal liver enzymes

Locations (1)

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital

Santa Barbara, California, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

An increase in the subjects inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire score

Participants will fill-out a questionnaire called the IBDQ at enrollment, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months after enrollment. The IBDQ is a validated instrument often used in routine care and studies of patients with IBD (Appendix E). The IBDQ measures the activity of IBD and quality of life. It includes 32 questions placed into 4 domains: bowel, social, emotional and systemic. Each question is ranked from 1-7, 1 being the poorest quality of life and 7 being the best quality of life8. A score of \>170 means that a patient is clinically in remission and an increase in score between 16 and 32 are considered a meaningful improvement in symptoms.

Time frame: 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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