Aprepitant to Mitigate Opioids' Cognitive Side Effects



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Cognitive Studies
Therapuetic Areas:Psychiatry / Psychology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 85
Updated:4/2/2016
Start Date:October 2014
Contact:Kai Schoenhage, MD
Email:kschoenhage@anesth.arizona.edu
Phone:5206260373

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Morphine and similar substances (called opioids) are often prescribed for moderate to severe
pain, such as after a surgery, thus allowing for minimal pain and a better recovery.
Unfortunately various, non-dangerous side effects from opioids occur often that limit the
way patients feel and can take of themselves, despite otherwise good pain control and
minimal limitations from the surgery itself.

In this proposed study the investigators want to examine if the drug aprepitant can decrease
the so called "cognitive impairments" opioids may cause, such as drowsiness, loopiness and
feeling "high".

This would allow for a better recovery period, in which patients can be more "themselves",
participate in activities around them and move forward.

Subjects scheduled for elective surgeries with expected opioid medication for moderate to
severe pain and good functional status shortly after surgery will be randomized to receive
either aprepitant or placebo shortly before their surgery and for two more days thereafter.

A telephone interview for cognitive status and several specific questions will be used to
assess the effect of aprepitant on the subjects' cognitive and functional status.

Inclusion Criteria:

- healthy English speaking, opioid-naive consenting adults

Exclusion Criteria:

- current or very recent (< 3 months) opioid therapy

- morbid obesity

- liver disease

- therapy with pimozide, terfenadine, astemizole, cisapride, vitamin K antagonists
(warfarin), hormonal contraceptives

- acute or chronic infections

- immunocompromised status

- hemodynamically unstable, hemorrhage (bleeding)

- recent surgery

- pregnancy, nursing

- younger than 18 years old

- not proficient of the English language
We found this trial at
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Tucson, Arizona 85724
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Tucson, AZ
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