Status:

COMPLETED

Low-Dose Opiate Therapy for Discomfort in Dementia (L-DOT)

Lead Sponsor:

VA Office of Research and Development

Conditions:

Alzheimer Disease

Dementia

Eligibility:

All Genders

55+ years

Phase:

PHASE4

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a low dose an opiate pain medication is effective for the treatment of discomfort in patients with advanced dementia. The study medication was also k...

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the Low-Dose Opiate Therapy for Discomfort in Dementia (L-DOT) project was to determine whether low-dose opiates are effective and well tolerated for the treatment...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • 55 years of age or older;
  • Must have a diagnosis of dementia;
  • Advanced stage of dementia demonstrated by a score of 6 or greater on the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) scale;
  • Unable to report pain in a reliable and consistent manner;
  • Have a PAINAD score of at least 2 on two consecutive assessments (separated by at least two days) OR an average PAINAD score of at least 2 on three consecutive assessments each separated by at least two days;
  • The patient must have at least one medical condition associated with pain recorded on the CPRS problem list.

Exclusion

  • The existence of an effective analgesia treatment regimen;
  • Pain treatment related to angina or pain judged to be related to angina;
  • Current pain treatment with opiates that cannot, in the opinion of the attending physician, be discontinued without placing the patient at risk for increased pain or opiate withdrawal;
  • Current pain treatment with tramadol that cannot, in the opinion of the attending physician, be discontinued;
  • Presence of necessary drug therapy that is incompatible with or has potential for clinically significant drug interaction with either hydrocodone or acetaminophen;
  • A history of allergy, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to either hydrocodone or acetaminophen;
  • Constipation refractory to current treatment measures or a condition that would make constipation dangerous for the patient in the opinion of the attending physician;
  • The presence of liver disease, hepatic encephalopathy, or clinically significant elevation of liver function tests (LFTs), as determined by the attending physician;
  • The presence of renal failure, clinically significant renal insufficiency, or clinically significant elevations of serum BUN or creatinine levels, as determined by the attending physician; OR
  • Evidence, based on assessment by a geriatrician, that the apparent behavioral manifestations of discomfort are better explained by another problem (e.g., fever, infection, dehydration, delirium, psychosis)

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

October 1 2007

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ACTUAL

End Date :

June 1 2014

Estimated Enrollment :

11 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT00385684

Start Date

October 1 2007

End Date

June 1 2014

Last Update

November 20 2015

Active Locations (3)

Enter a location and click search to find clinical trials sorted by distance.

Page 1 of 1 (3 locations)

1

Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, 35404

2

Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, 35404

3

VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, 35404