Noninvasive Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Restless Legs Syndrome During Opioid Medication Reduction

NCT ID: NCT04698343

Last Updated: 2024-09-19

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 21 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-04-06
• Study Completion Date: 2023-03-28

Brief Summary

Prospective open-label single-arm feasibility study assessing the tolerability of opioid medication reduction in conjunction with noninvasive peripheral nerve stimulation (NPNS) for patients taking prescription opioids to treat moderate-severe primary RLS.

Detailed Description

For RLS patients taking a stable dose of prescription opioid medications prior to study entry, iterative opioid dose reduction is performed in conjunction with open-label NPNS treatment. For each of two iterative step-downs in opioid dose (step-down #1 and step-down #2), a 1-2-week run-in phase to allow resolution of opioid withdrawal symptoms unrelated to RLS is followed by a 1-wk assessment phase to evaluate if RLS symptoms have increased. Study participation is terminated if there is a clinically significant increase in RLS severity during the assessment phase or if there are intolerable opioid withdrawal symptoms at any time. Participants who tolerate both step-downs have the option of an extension phase involving a third step-down with the same format.

Conditions

Restless Legs Syndrome

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Noninvasive Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (NPNS)

NPNS device programmed to deliver active stimulation.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Noninvasive Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (NPNS)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

NPNS device programmed to deliver active stimulation.

Interventions

Noninvasive Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (NPNS)

NPNS device programmed to deliver active stimulation.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Subject has received a medical diagnosis of primary restless legs syndrome (RLS)
• Subject is currently taking a stable dose of at least one prescription opioid for RLS, where the total opioid dose is less than or equal to 60mg morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per day.
• RLS symptoms are most significant in the subject's legs and/or feet.
• Subject possesses the necessary equipment, internet/phone accessibility, and communication ability to complete electronic questionnaires and respond to electronic communications and phone calls from the research staff throughout the in-home portion of the study.
• Subject is 18 to 89 years of age (inclusive) when written informed consent is obtained.
• Subject has signed a valid, Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved informed consent form, can understand the requirements of the study and instructions for device usage, and can converse in English.
• Subject has been taking a stable dose and schedule of prescription opioids for RLS for at least 3 months prior to enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria

• Subject has RLS that is known to be caused by another diagnosed condition (i.e. secondary RLS).
• Subject was misdiagnosed with RLS, as determined by the investigator (e.g. actual diagnosis of Periodic Leg Movement Disorder (PLMD), arthritis, leg spasms or neuropathy without comorbid RLS).
• Subject has primary sleep disorder other than RLS that significantly interferes with sleep at the present time (e.g. unmanaged sleep apnea or general insomnia).
• Subject has been diagnosed with one of the following conditions at any time: Epilepsy or other seizure disorder, Severe movement disorder symptoms (Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, dyskinesia, dystonia), Deep Vein Thrombosis, Multiple sclerosis
• Subject has an active diagnosis of one of the following conditions: Acute or chronic infection other than viral upper respiratory tract infections, Stage 4-5 chronic kidney disease or renal failure, Iron-deficient anemia, Severe edema affecting lower legs
• Subject has any of the following at the location of device application: Acute injury, Cellulitis, Open sores
• Subject has a malignancy within the past 5 years (not including basal or squamous cell skin cancer)
• Subject is on dialysis or anticipated to start dialysis while participating in the study
• Subject has severe peripheral neuropathy affecting the lower legs and/or subject has neuropathy and is unable to clearly distinguish between symptoms of neuropathy and symptoms of RLS.
• During NPNS calibration, subject has a sensation threshold above the upper-cutoff value (e.g. 30mA), the subject finds stimulation intensities less than 15 mA to be uncomfortable or distracting, or the device does not properly fit the subject.
• Subject has significantly changed dose or schedule of a medication that may impact RLS symptoms within the 30 days prior to enrollment, as judged by the investigator (e.g. antidepressants, sleep medications, sedative antihistamines).
• Subject has received an investigational drug or device within the last 30 days or is planning to receive an investigational device during the duration of the study.
• Subject has another medical condition that may affect validity of the study as determined by the investigator.
• Subject is unable or unwilling to comply with study requirements.
• Moderate or severe cognitive disorder or mental illness.
• Subject has prior experience with Noctrix Health NPNS devices.
• Subject has active implantable medical devices anywhere in the body (including pacemakers), or metal implant at the site of study device electrode application.
• Subject has known allergy to electrode gel, polyurethane foam, or lycra.
• Subject is pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
• Subject has undergone a major surgery (excluding dental work) in the previous 30 days.
• Subject has another medical condition that may put the subject at risk as determined by the investigator.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 89 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Noctrix Health, Inc.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Jonathan D Charlesworth, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Noctrix Health, Inc.

Locations

Mark J Buchfuhrer private practice

Downey, California, United States

Ohio Sleep Medicine Institute

Dublin, Ohio, United States

Countries

United States

References

Buchfuhrer MJ, Roy A, Rodriguez S, Charlesworth JD. Adjunctive tonic motor activation enables opioid reduction for refractory restless legs syndrome: a prospective, open-label, single-arm clinical trial. BMC Neurol. 2023 Nov 21;23(1):415. doi: 10.1186/s12883-023-03462-6.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 37990163 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

R44NS117294

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

CT-03

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id