Dextromethorphan for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease and Similar Conditions of the Nervous System

This study is designed to determine whether dextromethorphan, a drug commonly found in cough medicine, is beneficial and safe for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other diseases that might share biochemical abnormalities with Parkinson's disease.

Patients with Parkinson's disease are missing the chemical neurotransmitter dopamine. This occurs as a result of destructive changes in an area of the brain responsible for making dopamine, the basal ganglia. Rhythmical muscular tremors, rigidity of movement, shuffling footsteps, droopy posture, and a mask-like expression on the face characterize Parkinson's disease.

Researchers believe that dextromethorphan may be able to safely modify psychomotor function of patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Neurodegenerative Disease Basal Ganglia Diseases Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Movement Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Parkinson Disease Parkinson's Disease Parkinsonian Disorders Synucleinopathies

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States

About this study

The ability of the putative excitatory amino acid receptor antagonist, dextromethorphan, to modify psychomotor function safely in patients with neurodegenerative disease will be evaluated using a modified double-blind placebo-controlled design. Therapeutic activity will be rated at various doses by means of standard motor and cognitive performance scales. Safety will be assessed at frequent intervals by clinical observation and laboratory tests.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Parkinson's disease or other neurodegenerative disorders in which excessive stimulation of central glutamatergic pathways is hypothesized.

Patients must be in good general health and have no history or clinical evidence of significant cardiac (including dysrhythmias), pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, endocrine, hematological or psychiatric disease.

Patient must not evidence any disorder which in the opinion of the investigator imposes an unnecessary risk to the patient or compromises the scientific interpretation of the data.

Individuals of child bearing potential must practice appropriate methods of birth control.

Treatment and study plan

dextromethorphan

Drug

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Nih

Registry information

Official study title

NMDA Receptor Antagonist Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disease

Important dates

Study start: 1993
Study completion: 2001
First posted: Dec 10, 2002
Registry last updated: Jul 13, 2006

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed