Namenda (Memantine) for Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease

Official Title: “A 16 WEEK, INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED, SINGLE-CENTER, DOUBLE BLIND, RANDOMIZED, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL OF NAMENDA® (MEMANTINE HCL) FOR NON-MOTOR SYMPTOMS IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE”

To evaluate the effects of Memantine on non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) affects about one million people in the United States. It is a common neurological condition that is clinically defined by rigidity (muscle stiffness), bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and tremor. Parkinson's Disease , however, reveals numerous non-motor symptoms that have been underemphasized. Problematic symptoms include varying degrees of dementia, psychosis, diminished assertiveness and confidence, general fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness, problems with blood pressure, sweating, and bladder, and a common yet difficult to define sense of "not feeling well".

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

• Drug: Memantine
  • 10 mg bid
• Drug: placebo
  • 2 tabs bid

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

• Experimental: 1
  • memantine 10 mg bid
• Placebo Comparator: 2
  • 2 tabs bid

Primary Measures

• This is an exploratory study. The primary efficacy point will be global impressions.
  • Time Frame: baseline versus study end
    Safety Issue?: Yes

Secondary Measures

• Analyses will be computed for the categorical dependent variables (DV): spirograph, pouring, subjective ADL, observed tremor, global assessment by examiner, global assessment by patient, and subjective assessment by patient scores.
  • Time Frame: baseline versus end of study
    Safety Issue?: Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. Subjects must be between the ages of 18 and 80 inclusive.
• 2. Each subject must meet standard criteria for PD.
• 3. All patients on dopaminergic therapy must report benefit. -No other abnormal neurological signs. -No direct or indirect trauma to the nervous system within 3 months preceding the onset of PD. -No convincing evidence of sudden onset or evidence of stepwise deterioration.
• 4. Subjects must be in generally good health as evidenced by previous medical history and clinical examination.
• 5. Subjects will be allowed to take any PD medication with the exception of amantadine.
• They will also be allowed to take medications approved for the use of Alzheimer's disease.
• 6. Subjects will be required to be on a stable dose of all medications for at least two weeks prior to entry into the study and may not alter these medications throughout the study.
• 7. If subjects are on an anti-depressant medications, a stable dose of these will be required for at least six weeks prior to entry into the study.
• 8. Subjects must be accessible by telephone.
• 9. If the subject is a female of childbearing age, she must have had: a hysterectomy, or tubal ligation, or otherwise be incapable or pregnancy, or have practiced one of the following methods of contraception for at least one month prior to study entry: hormonal contraceptives, spermicide and barrier, intrauterine device, partner sterility.
• 10. Female of childbearing age must have had a negative urine pregnancy test within one week of study entry. 11. Prior to participation in this study, each subject must sign an informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1. Subjects who do not meet inclusion criteria.
• 2. Subjects who are not able to abstain from alcohol for 24 hours prior to each evaluation.
• 3. Subjects who can not maintain an identical dose of any medicine that may affect PD symptoms or signs during their entire study involvement.
• 4. Subjects who have exhibited meaningful psychiatric disease not thought to be related to PD. (Depression and psychosis typical for PD will not be excluded). 5. Subjects who have previously taken memantine.
• 6. Subjects currently taking Amantadine. 7. Subjects with greater than moderate dementia (MMSE<24). 8. Subjects with co-morbid disease that in the investigators decision could interfere with treatment with memantine.

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 18 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: 80 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: No

Lead Investigator: Baylor College of Medicine Other

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

William G Ondo, MD Principal Investigator Baylor College of Medicine  

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on February 12, 2012

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00646204

Study ID Number: H-18912

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00646204

Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board