A Pilot Study Assessing Impulsivity in Patients With Huntington's Disease on Xenazine (Tetrabenazine)

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2023-07-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to see if tetrabenazine, which is commonly used to treat Huntington's Disease (HD), reduces the problems of impulsivity that are common in patients with HD. Investigators will also see how the medicine affects aspects of thinking and mood.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston; William Ondo, MD
• Collaborator: H. Lundbeck A/S
• Treatments: Tetrabenazine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• For HUntington's Disease (HD) patients only--Definite HD as indicated by positive gene testing or typical symptoms in the context of family history of HD.

• A moderate degree of impulsivity as measured by the Barrat Impulsivity Scale (BIS). (>65)

• Must be symptomatic in the opinion of the investigator. Standard clinical criteria for symptomatic HD will be employed, any motor signs c/w HD, usually chorea.

• Patient is cognitively alert and able to answer/understand.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient requires the assistance of another person to walk, or is non-ambulatory.

• Patient is severely impaired cognitively.

• Patients taking neuroleptic (dopamine blocking) medications within the past 14 days.

• patient is actively suicidal, has untreated or inadequately treated depression, has impaired hepatic function, is taking MAO inhibitors or is taking reserpine or has been off of reserpine for less than 20 days