Efficacy Study of Memantine Hydrochloride and Escitalopram for the Treatment of Co-Morbid Depression and Alcoholism.

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-12-31

Study Completion Date

2006-06-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of memantine, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor blocker, in depression co-morbid with long term alcohol heavy use comparing to SSRI-inhibitor, escitalopram. Second goal is to compare their influence to cognitive tasks and the third goal is to follow up alcohol-use with these two medicines.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Context Depression is common clinical problem among alcoholics and its treatment has no standard and is controversy. Glutamate NMDA-receptors may mediate the effects of long term alcohol related depression and thus the NMDA-receptor modulator memantine could have effects on it.

Objectives The preliminary aim of this study was to identify possible new treatment for depression of alcoholics and compare the efficacy of escitalopram and memantine in co-morbid depression of alcoholism.

Design and setting Double-blind, randomized, naturalistic study, 26-week trial on alcohol dependent outpatients.

Participants Eighty alcohol dependent depressive adults

Intervention Subjects were randomized 1:1 to receive memantine or escitalopram 20 mg per day. During the study the patient received routine psychosocial treatment at A-Clinic. No concomitant intervention on alcohol consumption and no imposed treatment goals. The patients were met weekly in first month, then after 3 and 6 months.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Alcoholism Depression

Keywords

Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.

Alcoholism Depression Efficacy study Memantine Escitalopram

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Ebixa (memantine hydrochloride)

Intervention Type DRUG

Cipralex (escitalopram)

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. The subject/patient is able to read and understand the subject/patient information sheet.
2. Prior to any screening procedures, the subject/patient must have signed the informed consent form. No study-related procedures may be performed before the subject/patient has signed the form.
3. Age 25-70 years
4. Heavy alcohol consumption (males more than 5 doses/ day, female more than 4 doses/day) for at least 10 years
5. Alcohol dependence (DSM-IV) assessed by SCID-I interview.
6. Major depression (DSM-IV) assessed by SCID-I interview. At least 4 weeks past from the previous inpatient treatment for AWS (alcohol withdrawal syndrome).

Exclusion Criteria

1. Other drug dependence (screened by urine test)
2. Other serious mental illness (DSM-IV)
3. Hazard of suicide
4. Pregnancy
5. Serious kidney, hart or thyroid problem
6. The subject/patient, in the opinion of the investigator, is unlikely to comply with the clinical study protocol or is unsuitable for any reason.
7. Liver cirrhosis or liver enzymes ASAT tai ALAT \>200.
8. The person that met the criteria stated in the Finnish Law on Clinical Studies, paragraph 7-10§ (children, pregnant, imamates or mentally handicapped).

Minimum Eligible Age

25 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Hannu E Alho, MD, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental health and Alcohol Research

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

National Public Health Institute, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research

Helsinki, POB 33, Finland

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Finland

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Maler JM, Esselmann H, Wiltfang J, Kunz N, Lewczuk P, Reulbach U, Bleich S, Ruther E, Kornhuber J. Memantine inhibits ethanol-induced NMDA receptor up-regulation in rat hippocampal neurons. Brain Res. 2005 Aug 9;1052(2):156-62. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2005.06.017.

Reference Type RESULT

PMID: 16009352 (View on PubMed)

Muhonen LH, Lahti J, Sinclair D, Lonnqvist J, Alho H. Treatment of alcohol dependence in patients with co-morbid major depressive disorder--predictors for the outcomes with memantine and escitalopram medication. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2008 Oct 3;3:20. doi: 10.1186/1747-597X-3-20.

Reference Type DERIVED

PMID: 18834506 (View on PubMed)

Muhonen LH, Lonnqvist J, Juva K, Alho H. Double-blind, randomized comparison of memantine and escitalopram for the treatment of major depressive disorder comorbid with alcohol dependence. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Mar;69(3):392-9. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v69n0308.