Cross-over Study on the Influence of Fampridine on Working Memory in Mild to Moderate Depression (NCT06751784) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 2
Cross-over Study on the Influence of Fampridine on Working Memory in Mild to Moderate Depression
Switzerland38 participantsStarted 2025-05-22
Plain-language summary
Cognitive deficits, including working memory deficits, are often present in depression and there are currently no effective pharmacological treatments targeting working memory deficits. Papassotiropoulos et al. (2024) has recently demonstrated that fampridine, a potassium channel blocker, can enhance working memory in healthy individuals with lower baseline performance, suggesting it may hold potential for addressing cognitive deficits in clinical populations. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether fampridine improves working memory performance in mild to moderate depression
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 55 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:
* Male or female
* Major depressive episode confirmed by the Mini-DIPS. Currently mild to moderate (MADRS: 7-30).
* Normotensive (BP: 90/60mmHg - 140/90mmHg). Sufficiently treated hypertensive subjects will be included.
* BMI: 19 - 34,9 kg/m2
* Age: 18 - 55 years
* Fluent in German
* IC as documented by signature
Exclusion Criteria:
* Contraindications to the class of drugs under study, e.g. known hypersensitivity or allergy to 4-aminopyridine
* Use of potassium channel blockers within the last 3 months
* Treatment with OCT 2 inhibitors and -substrates (e.g. cimetidine, propranolol)
* Treatment with antidepressants or antipsychotics within the last 3 months and throughout the study period
* Current intake of psychoactive drugs (e.g. benzodiazepines, antidepressants, neuroleptics).
* Other acute or chronic psychiatric disorder (e.g. psychosis, somatoform disorder, alcohol or drug abuse disorder)
* Cognitive impairment (MoCA score \< 25)
* MADRS item 10 \> 1 (suicidal tendency)
* Risk of lowered seizure threshold (due to e.g. sleep deprivation, withdrawal of alcohol after alcohol abuse, hyponatraemia)
* History of seizures
* Acute cerebrovascular condition
* Acute renal failure or severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2)
* Bradycardia \< 50/min during clinical examination.
* History of malignant cancers
* Walking problems (e.g. due to dizziness)
* Other clinically significant concomitant disease states (e.g. hepatic dysfu…
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
1
High-load working memory performance.
Timeframe: Before first intake of study medication and after last intake of study medication of the 7.5-days-treatment periods