Phase III Randomized Controlled Study of Morphine and Nortriptyline in the Management of Postherpetic Neuralgia

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 1969-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether opioid (morphine) treatment results in better management of pain than treatment with tricyclic antidepressant (nortriptyline).

II. Assess the effects the two treatments have on affective and cognitive functions.

III. Determine whether the presence of psychiatric comorbidity, particularly depression, can predict the outcome of the two treatments.

• Phase: Phase 3
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
• Collaborators: Johns Hopkins University; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• Treatments: Desipramine; Methadone; Morphine; Nortriptyline

Criteria

PROTOCOL ENTRY CRITERIA:

--Disease Characteristics--

• Diagnostically confirmed postherpetic neuralgia for at least 3 months following a segmental herpes zoster eruption

--Prior/Concurrent Therapy--

• Other: No concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitors

--Patient Characteristics--

• Life expectancy: At least 6 months

• Cardiovascular: No second degree or complete heart blockage No myocardial infarction in the last 3 months

• Pulmonary: No severe pulmonary disease

• Other: No history of substance abuse No history of dementia No history of encephalopathy No severe depression that precludes withdrawal from antidepressants Not pregnant No angle-closure glaucoma No AIDS related disease complex No terminal disease with life expectancy of less that 6 months