Effects of Metformin on Low Back Pain

NCT ID: NCT04055012

Last Updated: 2025-02-21

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

23 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-01-07

Study Completion Date

2023-12-15

Brief Summary

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The purpose of the current study is to determine the effects of metformin in non-diabetic patients with low back pain, and identify novel targets for future treatments

Detailed Description

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Outcome measures were updated after the initial submission to clinicaltrials.gov. The outcomes were changed in the Institutional Review Board protocol but not updated on clinicaltrials.gov. These outcome measures have since been updated to reflect what was collected for the trial.

Conditions

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Low Back Pain

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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High Dose Metformin

High Dose Metformin Group (n=100). Subjects will receive metformin and will be instructed to take 2 tabs per day (1,000mg) for the first week then increase to 3 tabs per day (1,500mg) for the remaining 6 months.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Metformin

Intervention Type DRUG

500mg tabs of Metformin Extended Release

Low Dose Metformin

Low Dose Metformin Group (n=100). Subjects will receive metformin and will be instructed to take 1 tab per day (1 metformin tab (500mg) for 6 months.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Metformin

Intervention Type DRUG

500mg tabs of Metformin Extended Release

Placebo

Placebo Group (n=100). Subjects will receive placebo and will be instructed to take either 2 tabs per day for the first week then increase to 3 tabs per day for the remaining 6 months OR take 1 placebo tab for 6 months.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo Tabs

Wait-List Control

Control Group (n=100). Subjects will be told that they are in the wait-list control group. They will have a 3 month "waiting period" before they will be randomized again to a treatment group. They will be randomized to one of the previous groups.

Group Type OTHER

Metformin

Intervention Type DRUG

500mg tabs of Metformin Extended Release

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo Tabs

Interventions

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Metformin

500mg tabs of Metformin Extended Release

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

Placebo Tabs

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Glucophage Glucophage Extended Release Metformin Extended Release Metformin ER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 18 and above
* Diagnosed with axial low back pain (low back pain more severe than pain in other parts of the body, without radiation of pain into the lower extremities).
* Women of child bearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at baseline.

Exclusion Criteria

* Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, other autoimmune/systemic inflammatory arthropathies
* Progressive lower extremity weakness or numbness
* Recent oral steroid use (within last 3 months)
* NSAID use
* Chronic kidney disease (eGFR \<60)
* Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus
* Subjects must not be pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed during the course of the trial
* Unable to take an oral medication in a non crushable pill form
* Taking metformin presently or within the last 6 months
* History of allergy to metformin
* History of lactic acidosis
* Severe Hepatic dysfunction
* Currently taking a diabetic medication such as sitagliptin, saxagliptin, linagliptin, alogliptin, sitagliptin with metformin
* Currently taking a Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as topiramate, zonisamide, acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, methazolamide
* Currently taking cimetidine
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Gwendolyn Sowa

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Gwendolyn Sowa

Professor and Chair Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Gwendolyn Sowa, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Pittsburgh

Locations

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UPMC Kaufmann Medical Building

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

UPMC Wexford Spine Center

Wexford, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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STUDY19010007

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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