Apomorphine Effects on Experimental Pain

Overview

The aims of this study were to assess the effects of the dopamine agonist apomorphine on experimental pain models in healthy subjects and to explore the possible association between these effects and a common polymorphism within the dopamine transporter gene.

Full Title of Study: “Alterations in the Ability to Tolerate Experimental Pain by Apomorphine and Its Association With a Dopamine Transporter Polymorphism”

Study Type

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
• Study Primary Completion Date: July 2011

Detailed Description

Healthy volunteers (n=105) participated in this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. Heat pain threshold and intensity, cold pain threshold, and the response to tonic cold pain (latency, intensity, and tolerance) were evaluated before and for up to 120 min after the administration of 1.5 mg apomorphine/placebo. A polymorphism (DAT-1) within the dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3) was investigated.

Interventions

• Drug: Apomorphine
  • 1.5 mg Apomorphine

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

• Placebo Comparator: Saline
  • Assessment of experimental pain models before and after treatment
• Active Comparator: Apomorphine
  • Assessment of experimental pain models before and after treatment

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

• Cold pain tolerance
  • Time Frame: 120 minutes

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy and free from chronic pain of any type did not use any medications other than oral contraceptives were able to understand the purpose and instructions of the study.

Exclusion Criteria

• any type of medical or painful condition use of medications or recreational drugs pregnancy.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 40 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

• Lead Sponsor
  • Rambam Health Care Campus
• Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
  • Sponsor
• Overall Official(s)
  • Elon Eisenberg, MD, Principal Investigator, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel