Gabapentin to Treat Itch in Patients With Liver Disease
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2004-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
In this study, the effect of the medication gabapentin to treat itching secondary to liver
disease is being studied.
There are some funds to cover travel expenses for patients who are not from New York (NY).
Gabapentin is approved to treat seizures in human beings. In this study, patients with liver
disease who meet inclusion criteria are admitted to the research hospital of the New York
Presbyterian Hospital to record scratching behavior by the use of a machine designed for that
purpose. Blood work will be obtained. After completion of recording, patients are assigned by
chance to receive active medication or placebo (a capsule that does not contain active
medication). The patients will come to the outpatient office of the research hospital 2 weeks
into the study for an interview and blood work. After 4 weeks, patients are readmitted to the
hospital to record scratching behavior. After data are collected, the code is broken, if
patient had been on inactive drug, active drug will be supplied as per protocol for 4 weeks.
Blood work will be obtained. If patient had been randomized to active medication, the study
will provide one week supply of drug. After that, the referring physician, with whom the
study was previously discussed, could prescribe the medication as it is available.
Phase:
Phase 3
Details
Lead Sponsor:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)