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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05184192

Efficacy of Gabapentin for Post-Covid-19 Olfactory Dysfunction

This study will investigate the efficacy of oral gabapentin in olfactory improvement following Covid-19- associated olfactory dysfunction. This is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

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Key information

About this study

The drug will be given over a maximum 14 weeks with up to four weeks titrating up, eight weeks maintaining highest tolerable dose, and up to two weeks tapering down. Change in olfactory function from baseline to completion of 8-week fixed-dose period will be compared between the two study groups. Follow-up assessments will be conducted for both groups 4 weeks after completion of taper down.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 years
  • Residing within the states of Missouri or Illinois
  • Clinically diagnosed or subjective olfactory dysfunction (anosmia, hyposmia, or parosmia) of 3 months duration or longer diagnosed within 2 weeks of Covid-19 infection
  • UPSIT score consistent with diminished olfactory function (score ≤ 33 in men and ≤ 34 in women).
  • Willing to respond daily to study surveys, preferably through smartphone with unlimited texting plan
  • In possession of ALL 7 household items: soap, burnt candle, peanut butter, herb, garlic, lemon, and coffee

Exclusion criteria

  • Clinically diagnosed olfactory dysfunction secondary to genetic abnormalities or congenital dysfunction, trauma, non-Covid-19 viral infection, nasal polyps, neurodegenerative disorders
  • Current use of: azelastine, bromperidol, orophenadrine, oxomemazine, kratom, paraldehyde, or thalidomide
  • History of addiction to alcohol, cocaine, or opioids
  • Impaired renal function, myasthenia gravis, or myoclonus
  • Severe allergy to peanuts
  • Pregnancy or attempting pregnancy during study participation
  • Inability to participate in virtual trial due to lack of access to the internet or unlimited text messaging; inability to comprehend or use English language
  • Availability less than 6 months from time of enrollment
  • Residency in states other than Missouri or Illinois.

Treatment and study plan

Gabapentin gelatin capsules 300mg

Drug

Gabapentin is an anti-epileptic also used for nerve pain. This study will investigate the efficacy of gabapentin for olfactory nerve recovery and improvement in post-Covid-19 olfactory dysfunction.

Other names: Letco

Placebo

Drug

lactose monohydrate NF

Primary outcomes

  1. Clinical Global Impression of Improvement Scale (CGI-I)

    Time frame: After the 8 week FD phase and four week post-tapper

    The primary outcome measure was the treatment response rate following the 8-week FD phase as determined by the CGI-I. The CGI-I is a modified 7-point Likert scale of -perceived change.

    Response options include: (1) much better, (2) somewhat better, (3) slightly better), (4) neither better nor worse, (5) slightly worse, (6) somewhat worse, (7) much worse. The response rate was defined as the number of participants self-reporting at least "slightly better" divided by the number of participants in each treatment group. Th

Secondary outcomes

  1. University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT)

    Time frame: Baseline, after completion of eight-week fixed-dose period, and 4 weeks after completion of taper-down period

    Forty different odors are presented in this test.

    Scoring: Forced choice of 4 responses to identify each smell. Anosmia: score 6-18; severe microsmia: score 19-25, moderate microsmia: 26-30 in women and 26-29 in men; mild microsmia: 31-34 in women and 30-33 in men; and normosmia: score > 34 in women and >33 in men.

    The total UPSIT score can range from 0 to 40 and scores. The MCID in UPSIT score is 4.

    Scores are interpreted as the level of absolute smell function (i.e., normosmia, mild hyposmia, moderate hyposmia, severe hyposmia, and anosmia), using the age- and sex-related normative classification system described in the UPSIT manual (Table 1)

  2. Olfactory Dysfunction Outcomes Rating (ODOR)

    Time frame: Baseline, after completion of eight-week fixed-dose period, and 4 weeks after completion of taper-down period

    The ODOR questionnaire is a validated 28-item patient-reported outcome measure which assesses the physical, functional, and emotional consequences of OD.

    The ODOR is a 28-item instrument with each item scored as either no difficulty or very rarely bothered (0) to complete difficulty or very frequently bothered (4) with a total instrument score range of 0 to 112 points. Higher scores indicate higher degree of dysfunction and limitation. the MCID is 15 points.

  3. NASAL-7

    Time frame: Baseline, after completion of eight-week fixed-dose period, and 4 weeks after completion of taper-down period

    NASAL-7 is a simple diagnostic tool for olfactory dysfunction that is based on commonly found household items and can be used by adults who suspect olfactory dysfunction. The NASAL-7 was developed by Dr. Piccirillo and colleagues in the Clinical Outcomes Research Office. The NASAL-7, contains 7 household items with each item scored as 0 for 'Cannot Smell', 1 for 'Smells Less Strong/Different Than Normal', and 2 for 'Smells Normal', for a total possible score ranging from 0-14. The following four categories of olfactory function were defined based on NASAL-7 score: anosmia (score 0-4), severe dysfunction (score 5-7), mild dysfunction (score 8-10), and normosmia (score 11-14).

  4. CGI-Severity of Smell

    Time frame: 8-week Fixed-Dose period, and 4 weeks after completion of Taper-Down phase

    CGI-Severity. The CGI-Severity scale ranges from 1 to 7, where 1 is normal function and 7 is complete anosmia. This assessment will provide subjective data on patients' baseline olfactory function prior to beginning the trial, after 8-week Fixed-Dose period, and 4 weeks after completion of Taper-Down phase

  5. CGI-S of Parosmia

    Time frame: 8-week Fixed-Dose period, and 4 weeks after completion of Taper-Down phase

    Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale for Parosmics (CGI-P). The CGI-P Scale is a global rating of parosmia and the single global rating ranges from 1-5, where 1 is No Distortion, 2 is Mild Distortion, 3 is Moderate Distortion, 4 is Mostly Distorted, and 5 is Complete Distortion. The response on the CGI-P will provide information on the patient's perceived severity of the distortion of their smell.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine

Other

Registry information

Acronym: GRACE

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Jan 11, 2022
Registry last updated
Mar 4, 2025

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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