Recruiting
Phase 1

Kratom vs. Placebo

Sponsor:

Christopher D. Verrico

Code:

NCT07218549

Conditions

Opioid Use

Substance Use Disorders

Opioid Analgesia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 55

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Placebo

Oxycodone HCl

Kratom 8g

Kratom 12g

Kratom 16g

Study Details

Brief summary:

The purpose of this study is to understand how kratom affects people. In this study, kratom will be compared with another substance and a placebo (an inactive substance). Researchers will also study how the substances move through and affect the body. This includes examining how the body absorbs, processes, and eliminates the drug (pharmacokinetics), as well as how the drug affects the body and how it may make you feel (pharmacodynamics). The information collected will help researchers better understand the effects and potential risks of kratom.

Conditions

Opioid Use

Substance Use Disorders

Opioid Analgesia

Study ID

NCT07218549

Start date

Sep 1, 2026

Status verified date

Oct, 2026

Completion date

May 31, 2029

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 31, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 55

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. English-speaking, 18- to 55-year-old males or females.
2. Female subjects must have a negative serum pregnancy test at time of screening and negative urine pregnancy test upon admission. In addition, female subjects must meet one of the following conditions:

  • Is a woman of non-childbearing potential defined as no menses for at least 12 months with status confirmed by FSH and estradiol levels at screening or surgically sterile at screening visit OR
  • Is a woman of childbearing potential and using a contraceptive method that is highly effective, with a failure rate of <1%, from Screening until 9 months after receiving the study medication. The investigator should evaluate the potential for contraceptive method failure (e.g., noncompliance, recently initiated) in relationship to the dose of study intervention.
3. Male subjects must agree to the following from Day 1 until 90 days after receiving the study medication:

• Not donate fresh unwashed semen

Plus, either:
  • Be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis) and agree to remain abstinent OR
  • Use a male condom and should also be advised of the benefit for a female partner to use a highly effective method of contraception as a condom may break or leak when having sexual intercourse with a woman of childbearing potential who is not currently pregnant.
  • Use a male condom when engaging in any activity that allows for passage of ejaculate to another person
4. Physically healthy, as determined by a clinical interview with a physician, laboratory tests (urinalysis, blood chemistry, 12-lead ECG), physical examination, and self-reported medical history.
5. 5\. No current or past diagnosis of severe mental illness, as determined by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) demonstrating no clinically significant contraindications for study participation, in the judgment of a Study Physician.
6. Clinical laboratory test results (CMP, CBC, etc.) must be within the normal reference range or with acceptable deviations that are judged to be not clinically significant by a study physician.
7. Have a history of self-reported recreational opioid use as defined by at least 10 times in the past year and at least once in the 12 weeks before screening.
8. Have a history of self-reported recreational stimulant use sufficient to be familiar with the subjective effects of stimulant-class drugs, as determined by the investigator. Recreational stimulant use may include cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, or nonmedical use of prescription stimulants.
9. Able and willing to give signed informed consent, reliable, and willing to make themselves available for the study's duration and follow study procedures.
10. Agree not to consume any recreational drugs during the study.
11. Able to perform study procedures as determined by clinical judgment.
12. Able to meet eligibility requirements of the Qualification Phase (i.e., drug discrimination) and Naloxone Challenges.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Seeking treatment for a substance or alcohol use disorder as determined by self-report during the intake interview.
2. Current or past diagnosis of opioid use disorder or other substance use disorder (SUD) within the past year, excluding nicotine-containing products. Prior marijuana/THC use is permitted provided, in the opinion of the investigator, the participant is able and willing to comply with the protocol-required abstinence from marijuana/THC products for the study duration.
3. History of opioid overdose.
4. Using medication or supplements that might interact with kratom or oxycodone as determined by self-report during intake interview.
5. Treatment with any investigational drug during the last 30 days.
6. Participants on parole or probation.
7. Currently pregnant or trying to conceive or currently lactating as determined by serum pregnancy testing at screening, urine pregnancy testing at admission, and self-reporting during interview and study visits.
8. Current or recent history of significant violent or suicidal behavior or suicidal/homicidal risk as determined by the C-SSRS.
9. Sensitivity, allergy, or contraindications/allergies to kratom, opioids, or similar compounds.
10. Use prescription or nonprescription drugs and dietary supplements within 14 days or five half-lives (whichever is longer) that, in the opinion of the study clinician may interfere with the investigational product.
11. Positive urine drug screen (UDS) for substances of abuse at each admission in the Qualification and Treatment phases, except that a THC-positive UDS alone will not automatically exclude a participant or preclude dosing. Because urinary THC metabolites may remain detectable for prolonged periods after prior use and are not a reliable indicator of acute intoxication or pharmacologically relevant recent exposure, THC eligibility will be determined based on self-reported recent use, clinical assessment, and investigator judgment. Participants who report marijuana/THC use prior to admission, appear under the acute influence of THC, or are otherwise judged by study staff to have recent intoxication will not be dosed and may be rescheduled or withdrawn, as appropriate.
12. Positive alcohol breathalyzer test at each admission in the Qualification and Treatment Phase.
13. History of sensitivity to heparin or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
14. Has donated blood or plasma within the last six weeks.
15. Has a history of increased intracranial pressure or brain tumors.
16. Has gastrointestinal obstruction, including paralytic ileus.
17. Has a history of seizure disorders.
18. Has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cor pulmonale.
19. Has a history of anemia or any other significant hematologic disorder.
20. Has a condition or abnormality that, in the opinion of the PI or Study Physician, would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data.
21. Has a major surgery planned within 6 months of screening.

Study Design

Enrollment

72 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

placebo comparator: Treatment Sequence A

Placebo: A single dose of placebo to match kratom (over-encapsulated placebo in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

active comparator: Treatment Sequence B

Active Control: A single 30 mg dose of oxycodone (1 X 30 mg tablet over-encapsulated placebo in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

active comparator: Treatment Sequence C

Kratom: A single 4 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

experimental: Treatment Sequence D

Kratom: A single 8 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

experimental: Treatment Sequence E

Kratom: A single 12 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

experimental: Treatment Sequence F

Kratom: A single 16 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

Interventions

Placebo

Placebo: A single dose of placebo to match kratom (over-encapsulated placebo in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

Oxycodone HCl

Active Control: A single 30 mg dose of oxycodone (1 X 30 mg tablet over-encapsulated placebo in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

Kratom 8g

Kratom: A single 8 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

Kratom 12g

Kratom: A single 12 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

Kratom 16g

Kratom: A single 16 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

Kratom 4g

Kratom: A single 4 g dose of kratom (in 32 opaque 00 capsules) will be administered orally.

Primary outcome measure

  • Drug Liking Visual Analog Scale [ Time Frame: From Treatment Week 1 to Treatment Week 8 ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Christopher D Verrico, PhD Pharmacology

713-791-1414verrico@bcm.edu

Adetola Vaughan, MA Psychology

713-791-1414avaughan@bcm.edu

Locations

Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center

Recruiting

Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

Contacts

Christopher D Verrico, PhD Pharmacology

713-791-1414verrico@bcm.edu

Adetola Vaughan, MA Psychology

713-798-7658avaughan@bcm.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Christopher D. Verrico

Last update posted

Nov 4, 2026

Last verified

Oct, 2026

Keywords

  • Opioid Use
  • Substance Use Disorders

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-11-13. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Christopher D. Verrico on 2026-11-04. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.