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NCT Number: NCT06840899

CBD for Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Spinal Cord Injury

The goal of this feasibility study is to learn whether Cannabidiol (CBD) can improve urinary incontinence and other symptoms in people with recent spinal cord injury (SCI).

Participants will take Epidiolex (purified CBD) for 90 days

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Key information

About this study

This pilot study assesses the feasibility of using 100mg of twice daily cannabidiol (Epidiolex) in adult spinal cord injury with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction following resolution of spinal shock.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • >18 years of age
  • History of supra-sacral spinal cord injury of any mechanism
  • Urinary incontinence with ≥2 episodes of urinary incontinence per day (outside of spinal shock)
  • Willingness to participate in drug intervention trial
  • English-speaking (able to provide consent and complete questionnaires)

Exclusion criteria

  • History of intravesical Botox
  • Actively taking >15 mg of Oxybutynin single dose or equivalent dose of alternative anticholinergic medication for bladder symptoms
  • Use of Cannabis (any form) outside of study as determined by urine drug screen after washout period of 1 month if prior Cannabis use reported
  • Thought or mood disorder aside from depression

Treatment and study plan

CBD

Drug

Twice daily 100mg cannabidiol (CBD)

Other names: Epidiolex

Primary outcomes

  1. Adherence to CBD (Epidiolex) regimen

    Time frame: 90 days

    Participants will complete a daily smartphone application-based drug diary recording when they take study drug.

  2. Completion of 72-hour voiding diary

    Time frame: 90 days

    This assessment involves electronic participant documentation of urinary episodes at home.

  3. Number of adverse events

    Time frame: 120 days

    Participants will be followed for adverse events for at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in urinary incontinence (UI) episodes

    Time frame: Baseline to 90 days

    Measured in the 72-hour voiding diary, participant documentation of urinary episodes at home.

  2. Change in symptoms associated with UI

    Time frame: Baseline to 90 days

    Measured on 72-hour voiding diary, participant documentation of urinary episodes at home.

  3. Change in urinary symptoms associated with neurogenic bladder

    Time frame: Baseline to 90 days

    Measured using Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score - Short Form (NGBSS-SF). NGBSS-SF is a 10 question survey assessing the following domains: bladder management strategy, incontinence, storage & voiding, consequences, and quality of life. The total score ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 28 (most severe symptoms). A higher total score indicates greater severity of neurogenic bladder symptoms.

Other outcomes

  1. Change in Urodynamics - bladder capacity

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    Bladder capacity assessment will be performed using pressure sensing urinary and rectal catheters during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast (and emptying if able) with fluoroscopic assessment. This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  2. Change in Urodynamics - maximum detrusor pressure

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    Max detrusor pressure assessment (cm H20) during bladder storage will be performed using pressure sensing urinary and rectal catheters during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast with fluoroscopic assessment. This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  3. Change in Urodynamics - bladder compliance

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    Bladder compliance assessment (mL/cm H20) will be performed using pressure sensing urinary and rectal catheters during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast (and emptying if able) with fluoroscopic assessment. This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  4. Change in Urodynamics - neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) episodes

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    NDO episode (involuntary, sudden contractions of the bladder muscle leading to a strong urge to urinate and potentially causing urine leakage) assessment will be performed using pressure sensing urinary and rectal catheters during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast with fluoroscopic assessment. This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  5. Change in Urodynamics - urine leaks

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    Urine leak assessment will be performed using fluoroscopy during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast. This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  6. Change in Urodynamics - vesicoureteral reflux

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    Vesicoureteral reflux assessment will be performed using fluoroscopy during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast. This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  7. Change in Urodynamics - bladder neck appearance

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    Bladder neck appearance assessment will be performed using fluoroscopic assessment during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast (and emptying or leak if present). This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  8. Change in Urodynamics - bladder shape

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    Bladder shape assessment will be performed using fluoroscopy during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast. This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  9. Change in Urodynamics - presence of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    Presence of detrusor sphincter dyssynergia assessment will be performed using pressure sensing urinary and rectal catheters, electromyography, and fluoroscopy during bladder filling with a solution of saline and iodinated contrast (and emptying or leaking if present). This assessment will only be completed for the first 10 participants to complete 3 months of treatment.

  10. Change in Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    BPI is a 9 item survey assessing pain severity and impact on quality of life. Participants rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 is the worst pain imaginable. Participants also rate how much the pain interferes with their daily life on a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 is complete interference. Total combined range is 1-10, where pain severity and interference are: Mild: A score of 1-4; Moderate: A score of 5-6; and, Severe: A score of 7-10.

  11. Change in Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction Score (NBD)

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    NBD is a 10 item system used to assess the severity of bowel dysfunction in individuals with neurological conditions, typically caused by spinal cord injuries, by assigning points based on the frequency and severity of symptoms like bowel movements, incontinence, and discomfort during defecation; a higher score indicates more severe neurogenic bowel dysfunction. The 10-items are scored on an ordinal scale. The NBD weighted score ranges between 0 and 47 points. A higher overall NBD score indicates more severe bowel symptoms. Score 0-6: Very minor; Score 7-9: Minor; Score 10-13: Moderate; and, Score 14+: Severe

  12. Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) Questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    PSQI is a 19 item questionnaire assessing quality of sleep. Each component score ranges from 0 to 3, with 3 indicating the most disturbance. Total score is a number between 0 and 21 that indicates how well someone sleeps. A higher score means worse sleep quality.

  13. Patient Global Impression Scale (PGI-C)

    Time frame: 3 months

    The PGI-C is a single question survey assessing change in overall clinical status after intervention. Answers range from Very much improved to Very much worse.

  14. Change in International Spinal Cord Injury Quality of Life Basic Data Set (SCI QOL)

    Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 4 months

    The SCI QOL is a 3-item questionnaire to assess quality of life after spinal cord injury. It is scored on a 10 point Likert scale, with an overall range of 0-30. Lower scores indicate lower satisfaction with quality of life.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Maria Flory

CONTACT

[email protected]

608-262-8652

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Cannabinoid Modulation for Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Spinal Cord Injury

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 21, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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