Naproxen + Pregabalin for Acute Pain

MB
Overseen ByMiroslav Backonja, M.D.
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test how two medications, pregabalin (a nerve pain medication) and naproxen (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug), relieve different types of pain in the body. Researchers will use a series of short, controlled pain tests to observe how these drugs affect pain responses. The trial will involve up to 25 healthy adults, each trying pregabalin, naproxen, and a placebo in different sequences. Suitable candidates are healthy individuals who can handle brief cold, heat, and pressure tests and report moderate pain during these assessments. While the study will not provide direct medical benefits to participants, it will aid in improving future pain treatment testing. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to foundational research that could shape future pain management therapies.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

Yes, you must stop taking any prescription medications, except for hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, starting 14 days before the first dose of the study medication and throughout the study, unless approved by the Investigator.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Previous studies have shown that single doses of naproxen, such as the 550 mg dose used here, are safe and effective for treating sudden pain. Research indicates that short-term use of naproxen does not increase the risk of side effects compared to a placebo.

Studies have shown that pregabalin is generally well-tolerated. While some side effects like dizziness or sleepiness can occur, its overall safety remains manageable. Pregabalin has been used for over ten years, and its side effects are well-known and consistent.

These findings suggest that both naproxen and pregabalin are safe for short-term use in healthy adults.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using Naproxen and Pregabalin for acute pain because these medications could offer a more effective pain relief strategy than current options. Naproxen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) known for reducing inflammation and pain, while Pregabalin acts by calming overactive nerves. This combination could potentially offer quicker and more comprehensive pain relief by targeting both pain and inflammation simultaneously. Unlike some current treatments that might focus on either pain or inflammation alone, this duo promises a more well-rounded approach. This could mean faster relief with potentially fewer doses needed.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for acute pain?

This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of naproxen and pregabalin for acute pain. Studies have shown that naproxen effectively relieves various types of sudden pain, with about half of the users experiencing at least a 50% reduction in pain within four to six hours. Pregabalin also reduces pain, particularly nerve-related pain and post-surgical pain, by lowering pain levels and decreasing the need for other pain medications. Naproxen reduces inflammation in the body, while pregabalin affects the brain and spinal cord to manage pain. Participants in this trial will receive different sequences of these treatments to assess their effectiveness.13678

Who Is on the Research Team?

MB

Miroslav Backonja, M.D.

Principal Investigator

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy adults age 18 or older who can tolerate certain pain tests, have a specific skin type (Fitzpatrick score 2-5), are not pregnant or breastfeeding, speak English fluently, and are willing to follow all study procedures. Participants must pass screening pain and sensory tests.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 years old or older.
* Have a skin type score between 2 and 5 (inclusive) on the Fitzpatrick Scale.
I reported a pain level between 4 and 9 during the screening test.
See 7 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive pregabalin, naproxen, and placebo in a randomized order during three treatment periods, with a washout period of at least 48 hours between treatments.

Up to 10 weeks
Multiple visits for each treatment period

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Naproxen
  • Pregabalin

Trial Overview

The study compares the effects of two pain medicines—pregabalin (works on nerves) and naproxen (reduces inflammation)—versus placebo in healthy adults. Each person receives all three treatments in random order with breaks between them while undergoing various short-term experimental pain tests.

How Is the Trial Designed?

6

Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Sequence CBA (Placebo - Naproxen - Pregabalin)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Group II: Sequence CAB (Placebo - Pregabalin - Naproxen)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Group III: Sequence BCA (Naproxen - Placebo - Pregabalin)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Group IV: Sequence BAC (Naproxen - Pregabalin - Placebo)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Group V: Sequence ACB (Pregabalin - Placebo - Naproxen)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Group VI: Sequence ABC (Pregabalin - Naproxen - Placebo)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Lead Sponsor

Trials
886
Recruited
677,000+

Citations

Single-dose oral naproxen for acute postoperative pain - PMC

The major efficacy outcomes were total pain relief over 4–6 hours (TOTPAR) ... Deriving dichotomous outcome measures from continuous data in randomised controlled ...

Efficacy and Safety of Naproxen vs Opioids for the ...

Clinicians should assess severity of baseline pain and functional deficits, potential benefits, risks, and relative lack of long-term efficacy ...

Clinical Evidence Supporting OTC Naproxen Sodium as a ...

Naproxen sodium provided significantly greater total pain relief (based on clinical data from the first 6 hours after initial dosing) compared ...

Single dose oral naproxen and naproxen sodium for acute ...

The relative benefit of treatment compared with placebo was 4.8 (2.8 to 8.4), giving an NNT of at least 50% pain relief over four to six hours of 2.7 (2.2 to ...

Nano-formulated lower dose oral naproxen provides faster ...

Nano-formulated lower dose oral naproxen demonstrated a faster time to onset of analgesia compared with placebo. Results from this Phase 2 clinical trial ...

Efficacy and Safety of Naproxen for Acute Pain

In this article, we review the data supporting the use of OTC naproxen to effectively treat a variety of types of acute pain, including dysmenor ...

Long-Lasting Pain Relief: A Pharmacist's Guide to ...

Safety Profile. Naproxen sodium has been demonstrated to be safe when used as directed for various acute pain conditions. 1,5 A retrospective ...

Safety of naproxen compared with placebo, ibuprofen and ...

Our pooled analysis did not find an increased risk of adverse events with short-term use of non-prescription doses of naproxen compared with placebo.