A Double Blind Placebo Study to Determine the Effectiveness of Theramine on the Management of Chronic Back Pain

The diagnosis and management of back pain is a challenge for both primary care physicians and specialists. Establishing an etiology can be difficult and often problematic, with treatment options capable of producing serious and potentially life threatening side effects. Treatments often exert a modest impact on the natural history of the condition. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently prescribed to treat chronic back pain. NSAIDs are only moderately effective in relieving pain. NSAIDs are the leading cause of drug-induced gastrointestinal bleeds, the most common cause of drug-induced morbidity and mortality particularly at high dose. They can also exacerbate hypertension, edema and produce nephrotoxicity. The effects are also dose dependent. Recent data indicates NSAIDs are a risk factor for myocardial infarction, particularly at high doses. Recent data also indicates NSAIDs disrupt collagen repair in injured tissue. Muscle relaxants and narcotic analgesics show limited efficacy and often produce sedation, constipation or inappropriate usage. Physical therapy and local modalities often are not satisfying, costly, and require considerable investment of patient time.

Neurotransmitter depletion has been demonstrated to contribute to chronic pain states. Increased nutrient requirements associated with pain syndromes and the consequent reduced production of neurotransmitters contribute to maladaptive pain responses. The ability to enhance neurotransmitter production associated with pain syndromes is limited by multiple factors, specifically unavailability of adequate essential amino acids in the diet and increased turnover rates of amino acids needed to produce neurotransmitters in pain syndromes. Other factors such as prolonged pharmaceutical use deplete the nerve cells of neurotransmitters. Attempts to modify brain neurochemistry have focused on single neurotransmitters such as serotonin or GABA. However, this approach fails to address the complexity and complementary influences of multiple neurotransmitters on patient perception of pain and suffering.

Theramine is a proprietary prescription Medical Food which concurrently enhances several neurotransmitters that are involved in pain modulation and sensation by providing neurotransmitter precursors in the form of amino acids, (see attached Monograph for detailed discussion). Small trials have found Theramine effective in reducing and modifying pain without demonstrable side effects. Theramine simultaneously stimulates the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin, GABA, brain induced cortisol, nitric oxide, and glutamate.

Inclusion criteria

• Back pain lasting greater than six (6) weeks. Pain must be present on at least 5 out of 7 days during each of the two weeks prior to screening visit
• Analgesic medication used to treat pain at least 4 out of last 7 days and at least 10 days in the last month
• Men and non-pregnant, non-lactating women over the age of 18 and under the age of 75, able to read, understand and sign English-language informed consent, with diagnosis of back pain and baseline back pain greater than 40 mm out of 100 mm on visual analog scale
• Those taking an NSAID for pain must discontinue use during a washout period based on the attached five (5) half-lives of drug chart
• If undergoing physical therapy for back pain, therapy must be stable at least three (3) weeks prior to study and remain the same throughout study
• If using psychoactive medication which might have analgesic effects, (i.e. anti-depressants or anti-convulsants-), treatment must be stable for at least three (3) months prior to study
• For men and women of child-bearing potential, must be willing to use adequate contraception and not be pregnant or impregnate their partner during the entire time of study
• Must be willing to commit to all clinical visits during study-related procedures, including required discontinuation (washout) of analgesic or anti-inflammatory medication prior to Day 1 randomization. The patient must agree to using acetaminophen for rescue medication

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with back surgery in the past six (6) months
• Patients with significant neurologic impairment, as diagnosed on screening physical examination
• Patients with evidence or history of fracture of the spine in the past year
• Patients not fluent in English
• Use of aspirin for non-arthritic conditions, unless at a dose less than or equal to 325 mg a day, and must be stable for at least one (1) month prior to screening
• Use of controlled substances and/or opiate analgesic for pain, for more than 5 days within the last 30 days prior to screening visit
• Receipt of an oral intramuscular or soft-tissue injection of corticosteroid within one (1) month prior to screening
• Participation in a clinical trial within the one (1) month prior to screening
• History of epidurals in the past three (3) months
• History of alcohol or substance abuse
• Uncontrolled or unstable serious cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal or urogenital, endocrine, neurologic or psychiatric disorder
• History of gastrointestinal bleed or documented gastric or duodenal ulcer