Home Transcutaneous Electrical Acustimulation (TEA)

Phase 3RecruitingNCT05519683

University of Michigan160 enrolled

Overview

This study will assess the efficacy of two active treatments with TEA and a chemical neuromodulator (escitalopram aka Lexapro) versus a sham comparator or control group on abdominal pain.

The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of TEA to treat abdominal pain in participants with IBS with constipation (IBS-C). The study also aims to compare the electrical neuromodulation therapy (TEA) with medical neuromodulation therapy (escitalopram) in their ability to treat abdominal pain and improve the autonomic dysfunction in participants with IBS-C. This project will investigate the impact of 3 active treatment interventions vs. a sham control intervention on abdominal pain and other IBS symptoms in participants with IBS-C. This is a parallel-group study in which the participants will be divided into 4 treatment groups designed to investigate the feasibility of TEA using optimized parameters in comparison with medical neuromodulation therapy (escitalopram) and sham-TEA. The treatment will be home-based and last for a period of 8 weeks. To preserve scientific integrity and effective masking, certain details of arms and interventions will be made more precise upon or prior to reporting results

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

160

Conditions

Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation

Interventions

TEADEVICE

The TEA device administers a mild electrical shock through the skin, similar to acupuncture. Location sets are described in the protocol, which will be shared with results reporting but are not provided here to maintain masking and, therefore, to safeguard scientific integrity.

LexaproDRUG

This arm will receive treatment with the chemical neuromodulator escitalopram (Lexapro) at 10 mg once per day for 8 weeks. Lexapro is often used as a standard treatment for IBS.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Those with ongoing and symptomatic Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) * Significant mean worst abdominal pain severity (as defined by the study protocol, which will be shared with results reporting) on a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score during the Phase-in period * Symptoms present at least 1 day/week in the last 3 months with symptom onset at least 6 months prior to the diagnosis. * Abdominal pain is not adequately relieved at the time of screening and the time of randomization. Exclusion Criteria: * Unrelated active disorder which may involve abdominal pain, such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes or unstable thyroid disease. * Pregnancy, plans to become pregnant, or lactation. Any potential patient of child-bearing potential will complete a pregnancy test at Visit 1 and if the test is positive that individual will be excluded from future participation. * Any other condition, which in the opinion of the investigator would impede compliance or hinder the completion of the study * A history of abdominal surgery (other than cholecystectomy or appendectomy) * Active use of prucalopride, domperidone, alosetron, tegaserod, warfarin, antipsychotic (e.g., Seroquel, Risperdal), antidiarrheal, or frequent (\>2 days/week) use of opioid or antispasmodic medication. Those who frequently use Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) will also be excluded. * Ongoing use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs), or any other serotonin-active medications, including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Individuals on chronic SSRI therapy, including escitalopram, at the initial evaluation will not be enrolled in the study. * Inability to avoid the following medications: tricyclic antidepressants, Monoamine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors including, intravenous methylene blue, linezolid, and pimozide, as well as triptans, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John's Wort. - - Participants will be informed that MAO inhibitors cannot be used within 14 days of starting or stopping escitalopram. * Known hypersensitivity to escitalopram or citalopram including any of the inactive ingredients of these formulations. * Known allergy to adhesive Electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes. * Known angle-closure glaucoma, bipolar disorder, history of seizures or prior suicide attempt or known suicidal thoughts. * Known QTc prolongation or receiving scheduled therapy with a medication associated with prolongation of QTc (screening to be completed at recruitment as detailed above).

Locations (1)

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in abdominal pain/discomfort via daily Visual Analog Scale (VAS) survey

Participants will complete a daily VAS survey to measure daily discomfort. There are four metrics measured in this form, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, abdominal fullness, and abdominal cramping. These are scored on a line from 0 to 10, with 0 being the lowest (no pain) and 10 being the highest (worst imaginable pain) These scores will be totaled each day and compared from day 0 to day 98, or the end of week 14.

Time frame: Daily for 14 weeks

Change in global abdominal pain

Participants will complete a weekly VAS survey to monitor for change in discomfort for the week prior when compared to prior to starting the study. This contains two questions which ask yes/no questions asking about improvement over the prior week, and one question asking for satisfaction of improvement from 0 to 5, 0 being the lowest (not satisfied) and 5 being the highest (very satisfied). These answers will be compared from week 1 to week 14.

Time frame: Weekly for 14 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Change in quality of life via Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Quality of Life (IBS-QOL) survey

A self-report quality-of-life measure specific to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) that can be used to assess the impact of IBS and its treatment. This survey is 34 questions, all scored from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest (not at all) and 5 being the highest (a great deal, or extremely). The individual responses to the 34 items are summed and averaged for a total score. These answers will be compared from week 0 to week 14

Time frame: Weekly for 14 weeks

Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) - Anxiety

Determines levels of anxiety that a person is experiencing by asking 7 questions scored from 0-3, with 0 being the lowest (not at all) and 3 being the highest (most of the time). Responses for each category will be totaled and compared against the below ranges. 0-7 = normal 8-10 = borderline abnormal 11-21 = abnormal Scores will be compared from week 0 to week 14

Central Contacts

Colin Burnett

CONTACT

734-647-2806 bucolin@med.umich.edu

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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