WithdrawnPhase 3

Nalmefene vs Naloxone for the Treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Depression After Opioid Overdose

Stopped: No participants enrolled

United States0Started 2024-08-26

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare naloxone to nalmefene for the treatment of opioid overdose in adults. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does nalmefene lower the number of doses of medicine participants need to treat opioid overdose? * When participants are given nalmefene instead of naloxone, do they have fewer complications of opioid overdose such as being admitted to the hospital or having a breathing tube inserted? Researchers will compare nalmefene to naloxone for the treatment of opioid overdose. Nalmefene and naloxone are both approved medicines to treat opioid overdose. Participants who are brought to the emergency department after an opioid overdose will be given a dose of either nalmefene or naloxone if their breathing slows down again after an opioid overdose. Participants will: * Stay in the emergency department for 8 hours after receiving a dose of nalmefene or naloxone. * Receive a phone call 7 days after their emergency department to check on how they are doing. Background information: Naloxone (also known as Narcan) and nalmefene are opioid blocking medicines. When someone overdoses on an opioid, such as heroin or fentanyl, their breathing slows down or stops and they can die. By giving naloxone or nalmefene, the effect of the opioid can be blocked and the person can start breathing again. Naloxone is the most commonly used medicine to reverse an opioid overdose. The effect of naloxone lasts about an hour, and patients may need more than one dose of naloxone to keep them breathing. Sometimes patients overdose, get a dose of naloxone and wake up, and then some time later their breathing slows down again and they need another dose of naloxone. This can happen because the effect of the opioid they took lasts longer than the effect of the naloxone. The effect of nalmefene lasts longer than naloxone, about four hours. If a person gets nalmefene, their opioid may wear off before the nalmefene wears off and they might not need any more doses of a reversal medicine. Both naloxone and nalmefene are approved medicines for treating opioid overdose. Often, when a person overdoses on an opioid, someone gives them naloxone right away and then they are brought to the emergency department. In the emergency department, they are watched for several hours to make sure they don't stop breathing again when their naloxone wears off. If they do stop breathing again, they are given another dose of naloxone. In this study, participants will be given either nalmefene or naloxone if their breathing slows down while they are in the emergency department.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults (age ≥ 18 years) presenting to the UNM ED after a suspected acute opioid overdose event requiring at least one dose of naloxone. Exclusion Criteria: * age \<18 years * non-English speaking * unable to or unwilling to provide consent to research participation * allergy to naloxone * allergy to nalmefene * inability to establish IV access * prior enrollment in the current study * no working phone number for follow-up contact * buprenorphine administration during the ED visit prior to enrollment. * known pregnancy at the time of enrollment

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Recurrent respiratory depression

Timeframe: Within 8 hours of intervention

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06408714

SponsorUniversity of New Mexico

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-12-09

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Opioid Overdose trials