Intranasal Oxytocin for Methamphetamine Withdrawal in Women
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2024-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is a significant public health concern with burden to
individuals, families and health systems estimated to cost over $5 billion annually in
Australia. In 2016/17 there were 49,670 Australian treatment episodes for MUD, the first step
of which typically involves inpatient withdrawal. Currently there are no approved medications
to help manage methamphetamine withdrawal and consequently many people drop out of treatment
prematurely, leaving them vulnerable to relapse.
Oxytocin is a candidate medication that has the potential to increase treatment retention,
reduce withdrawal syndrome severity, increase post-withdrawal treatment engagement and reduce
relapse rates.
The aim of this pilot study is to investigate whether intranasal oxytocin can improve
withdrawal treatment outcomes in adult women with MUD. The study will examine usability and
efficacy of intranasal oxytocin as a treatment for methamphetamine withdrawal in women. This
will be explored by assessing length of stay in residential withdrawal, withdrawal symptom
severity, post-discharge treatment engagement and relapse rates in a group of women who are
prescribed intranasal oxytocin during their medically supervised methamphetamine withdrawal
at a residential detoxification program. The safety of intranasal oxytocin will also be
assessed. A secondary objective of the study is to conduct an exploratory analysis regarding
participants' capacity to interact effectively with others, as well as changes in social
networks and/or engagement with therapeutic services.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Turning Point
Collaborators:
Eastern Health Monash University National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED)