Status:

COMPLETED

A Pilot Clinical Trial Of Memantine for Essential Tremor

Lead Sponsor:

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

Collaborating Sponsors:

Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Forest Laboratories

Conditions:

Essential Tremor

Eligibility:

All Genders

18+ years

Phase:

PHASE4

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to obtain information on whether or not the medication Memantine reduces tremor in persons with essential tremor and is well-tolerated.

Detailed Description

Background: Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder but has relatively few effective and tolerated therapies. Tremor in ET is believed to be generated by a central oscillator, the i...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Age 18 or older
  • Subject diagnosed with essential tremor affecting both upper extremities.
  • Subject has been diagnosed for at least one year with tremor that is troublesome, so that improvement of tremor would improve the quality of life.
  • Subject has tremor with a tremor rating scale severity of 2 to 4 in one or both upper extremities in the tremor rating scale during posture and/or kinesis.
  • Subject has not had satisfactory tremor response to at least one anti-tremor medication.
  • Subject is able to comply with all testing and follow-up visit requirements.
  • Subject is able to abstain from alcohol for at least 12 hours prior to each Study Visit and from caffeinated beverages on the day of the Visit.
  • Subject has voluntarily signed an informed consent in accordance with institutional policies.
  • Subject is either
  • Not taking medication for Essential Tremor and has not done so for at least 28 days prior to Visit 1.
  • Taking medication for Essential Tremor and has been taking a stable dose so for at least 28 days prior to Visit 1.

Exclusion

  • Subject has progressive neurological disease other than Essential Tremor.
  • Subject has history of alcoholism or drug abuse within the past year.
  • Subject has history of mania, bipolar depressive disorder, schizophrenia, or other major psychiatric disorder.
  • Subject drinks more than 2 glasses of wine or equivalent per day in last 30 days.
  • Subject has received botulinum injection of the upper extremities in the past 6 months.
  • Subject is currently using investigational device.
  • Subject has taken an investigational drug within a clearance duration of 5 times the half-life of the investigational drug.
  • Subject is pregnant or a female of childbearing potential not using adequate contraception.
  • Subject has a medical condition likely to result in hospitalization.
  • Known allergy to memantine or amantadine.
  • Taking medication that alkalinizes the urine, such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitor or sodium bicarbonate.
  • Any disorder or condition that may interfere with the absorption, the distribution, or excretion of drugs.
  • Taking medication known to cause postural tremor, that in the clinical judgement of the investigator is contributing to the subject's tremor.
  • Receiving deep brain stimulation within two weeks prior to Visit 1 or has potential need for deep brain stimulation during the study.
  • Has received ablative thalamotomy or gamma knife thalamotomy within six months of study onset.
  • Tremor potentially due to head trauma, hyperthyroidism, cerebrovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, polyneuropathy, or family history of Fragile X syndrome.
  • Known renal disease with creatinine level outside normal range.

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

February 1 2007

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ACTUAL

End Date :

December 1 2009

Estimated Enrollment :

16 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT00439699

Start Date

February 1 2007

End Date

December 1 2009

Last Update

June 22 2012

Active Locations (1)

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VA Greater Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90073