Desvenlafaxine in Opioid-Dependent Patients
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02200406 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : July 25, 2014
Last Update Posted : October 23, 2020
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Depression Opioid Dependence Methadone Treatment | Drug: Desvenlafaxine | Phase 4 |
To assess the feasibility, tolerability and acceptability of 8 weeks of Desvenlafaxine (DESV) administration among opioid-dependent subjects in a methadone-maintenance program, we will collect detailed information on compliance to DESV treatment, side effects, methadone plasma levels, methadone dose changes and QTc measures.
To explore the effects of DESV on depressive symptoms among opioid-dependent subjects on methadone-maintenance treatment. The severity and symptoms of depression will be evaluated by using the MADRS, the HRDS, and the CGI scale.
To explore the effects of DESV on substance use, anxiety, craving, quality of life and suicidal risk.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 18 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | An Open-Label Pilot Study of Desvenlafaxine for Opioid-Dependent Patients With Comorbid Depression |
Study Start Date : | July 2014 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | January 2017 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 2017 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Desvenlafaxine
|
Drug: Desvenlafaxine
All subjects will receive 50 mg of the medication during week 1 and 2, then 50-100 mg (based on the psychiatrist judgment) for the following 6 weeks. Subjects who experience significant adverse reactions with the 100mg dose during weeks 2 to 4 could return to the lower dose of 50 mg if judged clinically appropriate by the study psychiatrist.
Other Name: PRISTIQ |
- Tolerability: Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Events (SAFTEE) [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Safety and adverse effects with the Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Events (SAFTEE)
- effect of Desvenlafaxine on depressive symptoms [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Responders will be determined by a 50% reduction in (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale) HAM-D scores, and remitters will be determined based on scores of ≤7.
- effect of Desvenlafaxine on depressive symptoms [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Responders will be determined by a 50% reduction in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Scale (MADRS) scores, and remitters will be determined based on scores of 10.
- Response to treatment [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]A favorable response will be defined as a score of 1 or 2 (very much or much improved) on the Clinical Global Impression CGI-I subscale
- Feasibility: Proportion of persons screened who are eligible and enrolled [ Time Frame: Baseline ]Proportion of persons screened who are eligible and enrolled
- Treatment adherence [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Compliance will be evaluated at each in-person follow-up visit. Treatment adherence will be calculated as the total number of tablets dispensed minus the number returned, divided by the total number of tablets dispensed
- Effect of Desvenlafaxine administration on QT/QTc interval prolongation [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]It will be assessed by electrocardiograms (upper limit for safety should be 500ms).
- Feasibility: Proportion of scheduled study visits completed and biological samples collected [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Proportion of scheduled study visits completed and biological samples collected
- Potential for drug interactions between methadone and antidepressants - Effect of Desvenlafaxine on methadone serum level (pharmacokinetic variability) [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]Change from baseline in methadone serum level. We will assessed the methadone serum level at baseline and after a month of treatment.
- Methadone dose adjustments [ Time Frame: 2 - 4 weeks ]Change from baseline in methadone dose. Each dose adjustment occurring during the trial will be noted at each follow-up visit
- Substance use [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]number of days of substance use as assessed with The Time Line Follow-Back (TFLB), urine-drug testing and alcohol-breathalyzer testing.
- Effect of Desvenlafaxine on anxiety [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Change from Baseline in anxiety and mood. It will be assessed with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)
- Effect of Desvenlafaxine on blood pressure and heart rate [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Change from Baseline in Systolic Blood Pressure and heart rate
- Effect of Desvenlafaxine on opioid craving [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Assessed with the abbreviated Heroin Craving Questionnaire (HCQ) - Change from Baseline in Craving.
- Effect of Desvenlafaxine on quality of life [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Change from baseline in Quality of life. It will be assessed with the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF)
- Effect of Desvenlafaxine on disability [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Change from baseline in disability. It will be assessed with the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS)
- Effect of Desvenlafaxine on suicidal behaviour [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]Change from Baseline in suicidal behaviour. It will be assessed with the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS)
- Effect of Desvenlafaxine on testosterone level [ Time Frame: 4 weeks ]Change from Baseline in testosterone.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- DSM-IV-TR criteria for opioid dependence;
- Subject is on methadone treatment in the substitution program for at least 4 weeks;
- Subject is aged between 18 and 65 years old;
- subject meets the DSM-V TR criteria for major depressive episode, according to the study psychiatrist and confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI);
- Subject reports a score of 20 or higher on the MADRS;
- Subject is eligible for and consents to the study;
- subject is able to give valid, informed consent;
- subject is able to speak and read French or English (grade-nine level of language required)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unstable medical illness, defined as any medical illness which has not been well-controlled with standard-of-care medications;
- Severe psychiatric condition (e.g., current acute psychosis, past or current hypomania/mania) based on the MINI;
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
- Inability to use a medically acceptable form of contraception throughout the study duration. A medically acceptable form of contraception is either: (1) contraceptive pill or intrauterine device or depot hormonal preparation (ring, injection, implant); and/or (2) a barrier method of contraception such as diaphragm, sponge with spermicide or condom;
- Subject currently takes another antidepressant;
- Treatment with Desvenlafaxine at any time in the past;
- Known hypersensitivity to venlafaxine;
- Subject is undergoing psychotherapies for current depression (support therapy or counseling are allowed);
- Subject failed to respond to two or more Health-Canada-approved antidepressants during current episode;
- Unstable Axis-II personality disorder or other Axis-II disorder which has been the primary focus of treatment in the past 3 months, as ascertained by a study psychiatrists;
- Medical diagnosis of kidney and/or liver failure

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02200406
Canada, Quebec | |
Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal | |
Montréal, Quebec, Canada, H2X0A9 |
Principal Investigator: | Didier Jutras-Aswad, M.D., M.Sc. | Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) | |
Study Chair: | Suzanne Brissette, M.D., M.Sc. | Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) | |
Study Chair: | Julie Bruneau, M.D., M.Sc. | Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) | |
Study Chair: | Paul Lespérance, M.D., M.Sc. | Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) | |
Study Chair: | Clairélaine Ouellet-Plamondon, M.D. | Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) |
Responsible Party: | Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02200406 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
WI187002 Pfizer Reference Award Number ( Other Grant/Funding Number: WI187002 ) |
First Posted: | July 25, 2014 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | October 23, 2020 |
Last Verified: | August 2017 |
Desvenlafaxine Opioid-dependent Addiction |
Depression Methadone Comorbidity |
Opioid-Related Disorders Depression Depressive Disorder Behavioral Symptoms Mood Disorders Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders Chemically-Induced Disorders Desvenlafaxine Succinate |
Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Neurotransmitter Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Antidepressive Agents Psychotropic Drugs |