Trial Outcomes & Findings for Probenecid as Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder (PROB) (NCT NCT04218357)

NCT ID: NCT04218357

Last Updated: 2025-02-27

Results Overview

The stimulant effect of alcohol is assessed using the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES). The BAES is a self-report, unipolar adjective rating scale that is designed to measure both stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol. It consists of 14 items (score) that are rated on a 11-point scale. 7 of the 14 items comprise the stimulation subscale. Individuals are instructed to rate the extent to which alcohol has produced these feelings at the present time from minimum=0 to maximum=10. The subscale of stimulation has a minimum score of 0 (not at all, best outcome) and a maximum score of 70 (high, worse outcome). The scale was validated and published: Martin, C. S., Earleywine, M., Musty, R. E., Perrine, M. W. \& Swift R. M. (1993). Development and Validation of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 17, 140-146.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE1

Target enrollment

35 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Twice at each laboratory session, visits 2 and 3, during the ascending and descending phase of alcohol administration (BrAC).

Results posted on

2025-02-27

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Matching Placebo, Then Probenecid
Study Drug one pill by mouth once, for one day Matching placebo: Placebo
Probenecid, Then Matching Placebo
2g probenecid, one pill by mouth once, for one day Probenecid
1st Allocation
STARTED
18
17
1st Allocation
COMPLETED
17
17
1st Allocation
NOT COMPLETED
1
0
2nd Allocation (Cross Over)
STARTED
17
17
2nd Allocation (Cross Over)
COMPLETED
17
17
2nd Allocation (Cross Over)
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Matching Placebo, Then Probenecid
Study Drug one pill by mouth once, for one day Matching placebo: Placebo
Probenecid, Then Matching Placebo
2g probenecid, one pill by mouth once, for one day Probenecid
1st Allocation
Withdrawal by Subject
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

Probenecid as Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder (PROB)

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Overall Sample
n=35 Participants
Placebo, then probenecid one pill by mouth once, for one day or Probenecid then placebo one pill by mouth once, for one day
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
35 Participants
n=99 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
18 Participants
n=99 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
17 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
4 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
31 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
4 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
25 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
5 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
35 participants
n=99 Participants
Diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) by SCID-5
no AUD
9 Participants
n=99 Participants
Diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) by SCID-5
Mild AUD
12 Participants
n=99 Participants
Diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) by SCID-5
Moderate AUD
8 Participants
n=99 Participants
Diagnosis of alcohol use disorder (AUD) by SCID-5
Severe AUD
6 Participants
n=99 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Twice at each laboratory session, visits 2 and 3, during the ascending and descending phase of alcohol administration (BrAC).

The stimulant effect of alcohol is assessed using the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES). The BAES is a self-report, unipolar adjective rating scale that is designed to measure both stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol. It consists of 14 items (score) that are rated on a 11-point scale. 7 of the 14 items comprise the stimulation subscale. Individuals are instructed to rate the extent to which alcohol has produced these feelings at the present time from minimum=0 to maximum=10. The subscale of stimulation has a minimum score of 0 (not at all, best outcome) and a maximum score of 70 (high, worse outcome). The scale was validated and published: Martin, C. S., Earleywine, M., Musty, R. E., Perrine, M. W. \& Swift R. M. (1993). Development and Validation of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 17, 140-146.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Matching Placebo
n=35 Participants
Placebo, one pill by mouth once, for one day Matching placebo: Placebo
Probenecid
n=34 Participants
2g probenecid, one pill by mouth once, for one day Probenecid: safety
Stimulant Effects of Alcohol When Co-administered With Drug or Matching Placebo
Ascending alcohol BrAC
28.23 scores on scale
Standard Deviation 21.82
25.26 scores on scale
Standard Deviation 20.66
Stimulant Effects of Alcohol When Co-administered With Drug or Matching Placebo
Descending alcohol BrAC
20.57 scores on scale
Standard Deviation 18.95
19.56 scores on scale
Standard Deviation 20.33

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Twice at each laboratory session, visits 2 and 3, during the ascending and descending phase of alcohol administration (BrAC).

The sedative effect of alcohol is assessed using the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES). The BAES is a self-report, unipolar adjective rating scale that is designed to measure both stimulant and sedative effects of alcohol. It consists of 14 items (score) that are rated on a 11-point scale. 7 of the 14 items comprise the sedation subscale. Individuals are instructed to rate the extent to which alcohol has produced these feelings at the present time from minimum=0 to maximum=10. The subscale of stimulation has a minimum score of 0 (not at all, best outcome) and a maximum score of 70 (high, worse outcome). The scale was validated and published: Martin, C. S., Earleywine, M., Musty, R. E., Perrine, M. W. \& Swift R. M. (1993). Development and Validation of the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 17, 140-146.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Matching Placebo
n=35 Participants
Placebo, one pill by mouth once, for one day Matching placebo: Placebo
Probenecid
n=34 Participants
2g probenecid, one pill by mouth once, for one day Probenecid: safety
Sedative Effects of Alcohol When Co-administered With Drug or Matching Placebo
Ascending limb of BrAC
16.02 scores on scale
Standard Deviation 14.21
16.79 scores on scale
Standard Deviation 15.17
Sedative Effects of Alcohol When Co-administered With Drug or Matching Placebo
Descending limb of BrAC
16.26 scores on scale
Standard Deviation 15.27
16.50 scores on scale
Standard Deviation 15.15

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Twice at each laboratory session, visits 2 and 3, during the ascending and descending phase of alcohol administration (BrAC).

Alcohol craving is assessed using change in the alcohol urge questionnaire (AUQ). The Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) consists of eight statements about the respondent's feelings and thoughts about drinking as they are completing the questionnaire (i.e., right now). Drinking refers to various types of alcohol, including beer, wine and liquor. The respondent is asked to respond to each statement about alcohol craving via a 7-item Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" to "strongly agree." Each item is scored on a 1 to 7 scale (Strongly Disagree = 1 and Strongly Agree = 7). Items 2 and 7 are reverse scored. A total score is computed by averaging the item scores. Minimum score is 7, maximum score is 48. Higher scores reflect greater alcohol craving (worse outcome).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Matching Placebo
n=35 Participants
Placebo, one pill by mouth once, for one day Matching placebo: Placebo
Probenecid
n=34 Participants
2g probenecid, one pill by mouth once, for one day Probenecid: safety
Alcohol Craving
Ascending limb of BrAC
23.09 score on scale
Standard Deviation 13.23
17.24 score on scale
Standard Deviation 10.47
Alcohol Craving
Descending limb of BrAC
19.63 score on scale
Standard Deviation 12.04
18.38 score on scale
Standard Deviation 12.29

Adverse Events

Matching Placebo

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Probenecid

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Carolina Haass-Koffler, PharmD, PhD

Brown University

Phone: 4155191385

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place