Name of Project: CTO: Double-blind, Placebo-controlled
Trial of Bupropion for the Treatment of Methamphetamine
Principal Investigator: Thomas Newton, M.D.
Co-Principal Investigators: Richard Rawson, Ph.D, Walter Ling, M.D.
Project Director: Valerie Pearce
Funding Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA)
Funding Period: February 2000–February
2005
Scope of Project: The NIDA Methamphetamine Clinical
Trials Operations (CTO) group involves the establishment of five
clinical research sites coordinated by UCLA researchers where
medications with potential value for methamphetamine users will
be tested. The goal of this network is to speed the development
of methamphetamine pharmacotherapy research by establishing multiple
research clinics in geographic regions of the United States with
substantial methamphetamine (MA) problems. The bupropion protocol
is currently being conducted by investigators associated with
six organizations: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas
City, Missouri; University of Hawaii (Queens Hospital) Honolulu,
Hawaii; Matrix Institute on Addictions, Costa Mesa, California;
South Bay Treatment Center, San Diego, California; and the Iowa
Health Systems (Office of Research, Lutheran Hospital), Des Moines,
Iowa. This study is a preliminary assessment to assess the efficacy
and safety of bupropion in reducing methamphetamine use in subjects
with methamphetamine dependence. It is hypothesized that bupropion
treatment, compared to placebo, will be associated with fewer
days of methamphetamine use as measured by quantitative urine
analysis for methamphetamine. This is a double-blind, placebo-controlled,
randomized, two arm study comparing 150mg BID dose of bupropion
to placebo administered to methamphetamine-dependent outpatients.
All subjects will receive a base of standardized, manual-driven
cognitive behavioral therapy (a 90-minute group session thrice
weekly) over twelve weeks of treatment. A final follow-up assessment
will be conducted four weeks after completion of treatment.
For more information, contact Richard
Rawson.
Last updated - 12/09/2005
Last reviewed - 07/11/2003