Temporally-Resolved Electrophysiology of Acamprosate Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

Phase

Condition

Alcohol Dependence

Addictions

Substance Abuse

Treatment

Placebo

Acamprosate calcium

Clinical Study ID

NCT06269627

10001644

001644-AA

Ages 21-65
All Genders

Study Summary

Background:

Chronic heavy drinking can cause alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD changes how the brain works. People with AUD may drink compulsively or feel like they cannot control their alcohol use. Acamprosate is an FDA-approved drug that reduces anxiety and craving in some, but not all, people with AUD.

Objective:

To learn more about how acamprosate affects brain function in people with AUD.

Eligibility:

People aged 21 to 65 years with moderate to severe AUD.

Design:

Participants will stay in the clinic for 21 days after a detoxification period of approximately 7 days.

Acamprosate is a capsule taken by mouth. Half of participants will take this drug 3 times a day with meals. The other half will take a placebo. The placebo looks like the study drug but does not contain any medicine. Participants will not know which capsules they are taking.

Participants will have a procedure called electroencephalography (EEG): A gel will be applied to certain locations on their scalp, and a snug cap will be placed on their head. The cap has sensors with wires. The sensors detect electrical activity in the brain. Participants will lie still and perform 2 tasks: they will look at different shapes and press a button when they see a specific one; and they will listen to tones and press dedicated buttons when they hear the corresponding tones.

Participants will have 2 EEGs: 1 on day 2 and 1 on day 23 of their study participation. They may opt to have up to 4 more EEG studies (one on day 13 and one on each of the three follow-up visits) and 2 sleep studies, in which they would have sensors attached to their scalp while they sleep.

Participants may have up to three follow-up visits for 6 months.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

Age 21-65. In younger participants, the central nervous system has not sufficientlydeveloped, whereas in older participants, degenerative changes may confound thestudied measures. Moreover, the minimum legal drinking age is 21 years.
Enrolled in NIAAA natural history protocol 14-AA-0181.
Admitted to alcohol treatment program of NIAAA* with moderate to severe alcohol usedisorder by a clinician at the time of admission.
Determination by the attending physician or licensed practitioner caring for thepatient that the patient s current clinical status is stable enough to provideinformed consent for research.

The determination of the severity of AUD is via Structured Clinical Interviewfor DSM-5 after particpant s enrollment.

Exclusion

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

Use of naltrexone, disulfiram, benzodiazepines (except Oxazepam), antiepilepticcompounds, antidepressants, or neuroleptics currently or within the last 4 weeks. Individuals treated with acamprosate in the last 4 weeks would also be excluded.
Pregnancy at admission (negative urine pregnancy test required).
History of head trauma associated with an unconscious state lasting more than 30minutes, persistent sequelae, and/or cranial surgery.
History of epilepsy.
History of non-substance related psychotic disorders.
Contraindications for acamprosate (previously exhibited hypersensitivity toacamprosate calcium or any of its compounds; and/or severe renal impairment,manifested as creatinine clearance <= 30 mL/min).
Positive screens for alcohol or any illicit drugs (except THC) after admission andalcohol detoxification via breathanalysis and urine drug screen.

Study Design

Placebo

May 07, 2025

December 31, 2026

Study Description

Study Description:

This double-blind placebo-controlled study will focus on electrophysiological changes in brains of alcohol use disorder (AUD)inpatients resulting from a post-withdrawal 21-day acamprosate/placebo treatment. Known and established electroencephalogram (EEG) markers of AUD as well as anxiety and alcohol craving levels will be assessed pre- and post-treatment. We hypothesize that acamprosate normalizes EEG markers associated with AUD beyond placebo, specifically, reduces beta power, increases alpha power, does not change slow band (delta and theta) power in resting EEG; and reduces theta event-related synchronization (ERS), and amplifies and hastens P300 waveforms in event-related potentials (ERPs).

Objectives:

Primary Objective: To test, via within-subject comparisons, whether a 21-day acamprosate treatment regimen normalizes the EEG of AUD inpatients beyond placebo in reducing beta power, increasing alpha power, and changing slow band (delta and theta) power in resting EEG; and reducing theta event-related synchronization (ERS), and amplifying and hastening P300 waveforms in event-related potentials (ERPs).

Secondary Objectives: 1) To correlate EEG changes with clinical changes, such as anxiety and alcohol craving. 2) To determine polysomnographic markers of response to acamprosate. 3) To correlate polysomnographic markers with clinical changes, such as anxiety and alcohol craving.

Endpoints:

Primary Endpoint: The said markers of EEG power and higher order EEG patterns will be measured before and after the 21-day treatment to compare the active-medication and placebo groups.

Secondary Endpoints: 1) Acamprosate-induced changes in EEG power and higher order EEG patterns will be correlated to changes in anxiety and alcohol craving. 2) Acamprosate-induced changes in EEG power will be correlated to changes in polysomnographic markers such as total sleep time, slow wave sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and total wake duration after sleep onset. 3) Changes in polysomnographic markers will be correlated to changes in anxiety and alcohol craving.

Connect with a study center

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
United States
Site Not Available
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda 4348599, Maryland 4361885 20892
United States
Active - Recruiting

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