Recruiting
Phase 3

Naltrexone & Bupropion

Sponsor:

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Code:

NCT06233799

Conditions

Methamphetamine-dependence

Methamphetamine Abuse

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX)

extended release bupropion (BUP-XL) tablets (BUP-XL)

iPLB

oPLB

Study Details

Brief summary:

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of extended release naltrexone plus bupropion XL (XR-NTX/BUP-XL) compared to matched injectable and oral placebo (iPLB/oPLB) in reducing methamphetamine (MA) use in individuals with moderate or severe methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) seeking to stop or reduce MA use.

Conditions

Methamphetamine-dependence

Methamphetamine Abuse

Study ID

NCT06233799

Start date

Jul 1, 2024

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Apr 30, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Oct 30, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 65

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Is 18 to 65 years of age;
2. Meets DSM-5 criteria for moderate or severe MUD (4 or more criteria);
3. Is interested in reducing or stopping MA use;
4. Is able to speak English sufficiently to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent to participate in the study;
5. Self-reports MA use on 18 or more days in the 30-day period prior to consent using the Timeline Followback (TLFB);
6. Provides at least 2 urine samples positive for MA out of up to 3 tests, which will occur at least 2 days apart within a 10-day period;
7. If assigned as female at birth and/or currently has a uterus, is not pregnant, agrees to use acceptable birth control methods, and have periodic urine pregnancy testing done during participation in the study unless documentation of hysterectomy provided;
8. Is not physically dependent on opioids and meets subjective and objective measures of being opioid-free prior to naltrexone injection per study medical clinician's determination, including, if clinically required, a negative naloxone challenge;
9. Is willing to comply with all study procedures and medication instructions;
10. Agrees to use a smartphone app (downloaded for free to own device or on a study provided smartphone device) to take daily videos of medication dosing.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has an acute medical or psychiatric disorder that would, in the judgment of the study medical clinician, make participation difficult or unsafe;
2. Has suicidal or homicidal ideation that requires immediate attention;
3. Has a history of epilepsy, seizure disorder, or head trauma with neurological sequelae (e.g., loss of consciousness that required hospitalization); current anorexia nervosa or bulimia; or any other conditions that increase seizure risk in the opinion of the study medical clinician;
4. Has evidence of second or third degree heart block, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, prolongation of the QTc, or any other finding on the screening ECG that, in the opinion of the study medical clinician, would preclude safe participation in the study;
5. Has Stage 2 hypertension as determined by the study medical clinician (e.g., greater than or equal to 160/100 in 2 out of 3 readings during screening);
6. Has any elevated bilirubin test value per laboratory criteria OR any other liver function test (LFT) value > 5 times the upper limit of normal per laboratory criteria;
7. Has a platelet count <100 x 10exp3/microliter;
8. Has a body habitus that precludes gluteal intramuscular injection of XR-NTX in accordance with the administration equipment (needle) and procedures;
9. Has a known allergy or sensitivity to bupropion, naloxone, naltrexone, PLG (polyactideco-glycolide), carboxymethylcellulose or any other component of the XR-NTX diluents;
10. Has been in a prior study of pharmacological or behavioral treatment for MUD within 6 months of study consent;
11. Has taken an investigational drug in another study within 30 days of study consent;
12. Has been prescribed and taken naltrexone or bupropion within 30 days of study consent;
13. Is concurrently enrolled in formal behavioral or pharmacological Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment services;
14. Is receiving ongoing treatment with tricyclic antidepressants, xanthines (i.e., theophylline and aminophylline), systemic corticosteroids, nelfinavir, efavirenz, chlorpromazine, MAOIs, central nervous system stimulants (e.g., Adderall, Ritalin, etc.), or any medication that, in the judgment of the study medical clinician, could interact adversely with study medications;
15. Has a current pattern of alcohol, benzodiazepine, or other sedative hypnotic use which would preclude safe participation in the study as determined by the study medical clinician;
16. Requires treatment with opioid-containing medications (e.g., opioid analgesics) during the study period;
17. Has a surgery planned or scheduled during the study period;
18. Is currently in jail, prison or any inpatient overnight facility as required by court of law or have pending legal action or other situation (e.g., unstable living arrangements) that could prevent participation in the study or in any study activities;
19. If assigned as female at birth and/or currently has a uterus, is currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning on conception.

Study Design

Enrollment

360 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: XR-NTX/BUP-XL

Participants randomized to the (XR-NTX/BUP-XL) arm will receive 450 mg of once-daily oral extended-release bupropion tablets and once every three weeks (Weeks 1, 4, 7, and 10) injections of extended-release naltrexone (Vivitrol®)

placebo comparator: PLB/PLB

Participants randomized to the PLB arm will receive once-daily placebo tablets and once every three weeks (Weeks 1, 4, 7, and 10) placebo injections.

Interventions

extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX)

Once per three weeks injections of extended-release naltrexone

extended release bupropion (BUP-XL) tablets (BUP-XL)

Daily oral extended release bupropion tablets

iPLB

Once per three weeks injections of placebo

oPLB

Daily oral placebo tablets

Primary outcome measure

  • Number of Participants with at least 75% methamphetamine-negative urine drug screen tests during the evaluation period (i. e., Weeks 11-12) [ Time Frame: 2 weeks (i. e., Weeks 11-12) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Locations

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Recruiting

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72205

University of California Los Angeles

Recruiting

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90038

University of California at San Diego

Recruiting

San Diego, California, United States, 92037

Contacts

Cassandra Henrickson, MAS

cahenrickson@health.ucsd.edu

Indiana University

Recruiting

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202

University of Kansas Medical Center

Recruiting

Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160

Contacts

University of Minnesota

Recruiting

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55415

University of Tennessee

Recruiting

Memphis, Tennessee, United States, 38119

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Recruiting

Dallas, Texas, United States, 75247

University of Virginia

Recruiting

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22903

More Information

Sponsor

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Last update posted

Jun 4, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on 2026-06-04.