Citalopram for Reflux Hypersensitivity and Functional Heartburn

NCT03499171 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: PHASE4 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 100

Last updated 2019-12-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Citalopram is a drug used in the treatment of depressive episodes and belongs to the group of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter predominantly found in the brain and the gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin is associated with psychological disorders, including anxiety and depression, and emotion regulation and it has been shown that anxiety and depression are associated with increased severity of GERD-related symptoms. Citalopram and other SSRI's elevate the concentration of serotonin by blocking the reabsorption into the presynaptic neuron and thereby increasing the level of serotonin available to bind the postsynaptic receptor. A recent study showed beneficial effects of citalopram in patients with reflux hypersensitivity. However, there was no objective measurement for reflux nor esophageal sensitivity during the treatment period. Moreover, the effect of citalopram in patients with functional heartburn has not been studied so far. Therefore, the inevestigators will conduct a randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of citalopram on the improvement in symptom severity, reflux parameters and esophageal sensitivity. 50 patients with reflux hypersensitivity and 50 patients with functional heartburn will receive either placebo or citalopram (Cipramil®) 20 mg as an add-on for a period of 8 weeks. Symptom severity will be assessed by a validated reflux questionnaire (ReQuest questionnaire and diaries), reflux parameters by performing a 24 hour impedance-pH monitoring and esophageal sensitivity using the multimodal esophageal stimulation paradigm

Conditions

  • GERD

Interventions

DRUG

Citalopram 20mg

Citalopram is taken once a day as an add-on to PPI treatment (2x/d).

DRUG

Placebo Oral Tablet

Placebo is taken once a day as an add-on to PPI treatment (2x/d)

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2019-05-27
Primary Completion
2021-04-30
Completion
2021-04-30

Countries

  • Belgium

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03499171 on ClinicalTrials.gov