Effectiveness of Mexiletine for Treating People With Non-Dystrophic Myotonia



Status:Archived
Conditions:Neurology
Therapuetic Areas:Neurology
Healthy:No
Age Range:Any
Updated:7/1/2011
Start Date:December 2008
End Date:January 2011

Use our guide to learn which trials are right for you!

Phase II Therapeutic Trial of Mexiletine in Non-Dystrophic Myotonia


Nondystrophic myotonias (NDM) are neuromuscular disorders caused by genetic abnormalities in
certain muscle cell membrane proteins. The proteins affect muscle contraction. Individuals
with NDM experience limited muscle relaxation, which then can cause pain, weakness,
incoordination, and impaired physical activity and function. Because NDM is very rare,
information on the best way to treat people with the disorders is lacking, and there are no
FDA-approved therapies. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the
medication mexiletine in treating people with NDM.


NDM are neuromuscular disorders that are caused by mutations in skeletal muscle ion
channels, usually voltage-dependent sodium and chloride channels. The poorly functioning
channels result in impaired muscle relaxation after contraction, which is also called
myotonia. Mexiletine is an antiarrhythmic medication that has a high affinity for muscle
sodium channels and may have the ability to correct delayed inactivation of sodium channels.
In case reports and single-blind clinical trials, mexiletine was shown to reduce symptoms of
myotonia. Currently, there is no standard strategy for treating people with NDM, and
effective treatment options are needed. This study will determine the effectiveness of
mexiletine in treating people with NDM.

Participation in this study will last 9 weeks and will involve two separate 4-week treatment
periods, with a 1-week washout period between them. During the first treatment period,
participants will be randomly assigned to receive either mexiletine or placebo, both of
which will be taken three times a day. This will be followed by 1 week of no treatment.
During the second treatment period, participants will receive whichever treatment they did
not receive initially and will follow the same dosing schedule.

Participants will attend five study visits that will occur at screening and Weeks 0, 4, 5,
and 9. Screening will include blood and urine sampling, electrocardiography (EKG), and a
medical history. The remaining visits will include a physical examination, a grip test,
exercise tests, nerve conduction tests, blood sampling, questionnaires, and electromyography
(EMG). EKG will be repeated at Weeks 4, 5, and 9. Throughout the study, participants will
phone in daily to report their symptoms. There will be no follow-up visits.


We found this trial at
4
sites
5303 Harry Hines Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75390
(214) 648-3111
UT Soutwestern Medical Center at Dallas UT Southwestern Medical Center is distinctive for its overall...
?
mi
from
Dallas, TX
Click here to add this to my saved trials
850 Boylston Street
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467
1-800-BWH-9999
Brigham & Women's Hospital Women's Health Center At Brigham and Women
?
mi
from
Chestnut Hill, MA
Click here to add this to my saved trials
3901 Rainbow Blvd
Kansas City, Kansas 66160
(913) 588-5000
University of Kansas Medical Center The University of Kansas Medical Center serves Kansas through excellence...
?
mi
from
Kansas City, KS
Click here to add this to my saved trials
601 Elmwood Ave
Rochester, New York 14642
(585) 275-2100
Strong Memorial Hospital (University of Rochester School of Medicine) In addition to offering traditional and...
?
mi
from
Rochester, NY
Click here to add this to my saved trials