Memantine for Enhanced Stroke Recovery

NCT ID: NCT02144584

Last Updated: 2025-12-22

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

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-01-31

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This will be a randomized double blind placebo-controlled pilot study using a repeated measures design in which participants with acute ischemic stroke and upper extremity weakness are randomized to either drug or placebo

Detailed Description

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This will be a randomized double blind placebo-controlled pilot study using a repeated measures design in which participants with acute ischemic stroke and upper extremity weakness are randomized to either drug or placebo, complete therapy, and complete outcomes assessments at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks post-stroke. Target enrollment will be 10 patients per group and adaptive randomization will be used to assist with equal representation of pre-stroke selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use and motor severity (Fugl-Meyer score) in each arm. The primary purpose of this pilot study is to measure adverse events, drop-out rates, feasibility of trial conductance, and establishment of effect sizes in each group in order to power a larger efficacy trial at the University of Utah. An intention to treat model will be used during the study.

Conditions

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Ischemic Stroke Upper Extremity Weakness

Keywords

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ischemic stroke memantine upper extremity weakness motor recovery

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Placebo plus standard of care

Participants will start taking either memantine or placebo within 24 hours after baseline testing and randomization is completed, but no later than day 8 post-symptom onset. Participants will titrate up on the dose of placebo until taking twice daily. Participants will continue for 90 days with placebo. Continue with standard of care for other treatment of stroke.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo (for memantine)

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo to be capsuled to look identical to active drug (memantine)

Memantine plus standard of care

Participants will start taking either memantine or placebo within 24 hours after baseline testing and randomization is completed, but no later than day 8 post-symptom onset. Participants will use a titration schedule starting at 7mg daily for 1 week, increasing by 7mg (1 capsule) per week until at a goal dose of 28mg daily (goal dose) as recommend by the manufacturer. Participants will continue memantine for 90 days. Continue with standard care for stroke.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Memantine XR

Intervention Type DRUG

The active drug will be encapsulated by the University of Utah Research Pharmacy to maintain blinding.

Interventions

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Memantine XR

The active drug will be encapsulated by the University of Utah Research Pharmacy to maintain blinding.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo (for memantine)

Placebo to be capsuled to look identical to active drug (memantine)

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Namenda XR sugar capsule

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Age \>18 years old
2. Randomization between 3 days-8 weeks days of stroke symptom onset
3. Arm weakness severe enough to warrant inpatient or outpatient occupational therapies
4. Able to voluntarily move affected UE
5. Living independently prior to their stroke
6. Image-confirmed ischemic stroke (MRI or CT)
7. Supratentorial location of stroke
8. Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Score of 50 or less and/or Fugl Meyer Lower Extremity Score of 28 or less
9. Ability to swallow pills

Exclusion Criteria

1. subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage or other cause of symptoms other than ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
2. Infratentorial location of stroke (brainstem or cerebellum)
3. NIH Stroke Scale \>20 at the time of randomization
4. History of dementia that will interfere with rehabilitation
5. Pre or post-stroke use of memantine or amantadine
6. Contraindications to taking memantine XR in pill form
7. History of prior clinical stroke with residual symptoms on the same side as the current symptoms that would interfere with outcomes of this study
8. Documented severe renal impairment (CrCl \< 30 ml/min) Blood tests will be performed prior to study procedures that will ensure patients do not have renal impairment if not done as part of clinical care.
9. Moribund or not expected to live 6 months
10. Severe cognitive deficits or pre-morbid function causing inaccurate neurologic assessment or inability to complete the initial assessment
11. Comorbid neurologic disease that would interfere with the results including but not limited to Multiple Sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, spinal cord disease, and central nervous system cancer.
12. Documented severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score \> 6) or severe hepatic disease (hepatitis)
13. Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Utah

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Jennifer Majersik

M.D

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Alicia Bennett, D.O.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Utah

Jennifer Majersik, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Utah

Locations

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University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Other Identifiers

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00068751

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id