INTERVENTIONALCOMPLETEDNCT05064319

Gabapentin for Restoring GABA/Glutamate Homeostasis in Co-occurring Bipolar and Cannabis Use Disorders: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel-group, MRI Study

This research study evaluates the effects of an FDA-approved medication Gabapentin in individuals with Bipolar Disorder who smoke marijuana. Participants in the study will will be assigned to take either Gabapentin or a matched placebo. Study medication will be taken for 17 days. There will be 5 study visits, with 2 MRI brain imaging scans completed. Questionnaires and clinical interview measures will be completed at study visits along with consistent assessment of potential side effects from study medication.

Locally preserved from ClinicalTrials.govOpen ClinicalTrials.govlast source update 2026-09-09

What this record can show

Protocol only - no registry results posted

This locally preserved record separates the registered protocol from source-reported registry results. Neither is a treatment recommendation.

Registry facts

Study at a glance

Phase: PHASE2
Enrollment: 51 (ACTUAL)
Start date: 2022-02-24
Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina
Design: RANDOMIZED · PARALLEL · TREATMENT
Locations: 1
Results record: Not present in registry snapshot

Linked local records

Related local records

Local links use governed condition terms or exact source-reported intervention names. They are navigation candidates, not efficacy claims.

Conditions

Bipolar Disorder

Cannabinoids and active compounds

No governed compound link was found.

Medicines

No exact medicine-name link was found.

Interventions

What was registered

DRUG

Gabapentin

After group assignment but before taking any study medication, and again 17 days later, participants will have a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam after completing various assessments (clinical interview, questionnaires, etc.). Group A will receive gabapentin 2-3 times a day for a total of 17 days.

DRUG

Placebo

Population and criteria

Sex

ALL

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

Inclusion criteria

1. Ages 18-65 years 2. Meet DSM-5 criteria for moderate or severe cannabis use disorder (CUD; within the past 3 months), provide a positive urine cannabinoid screen at baseline, and identify cannabis as the primary substance of abuse 3. Meet DSM-5 criteria for bipolar I or II disorder (BD) or Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type 4. Able to provide informed consent and read, understand, and accurately complete assessment instruments 5. Willing to commit to medication treatment and follow-up assessments 6. Prescribed daily use of at least one mood stabilizing medication (i.e., lithium, divalproex sodium, lamotrigine, carbamazepine, 2nd generation antipsychotic)

Exclusion criteria

1. A primary psychiatric diagnosis other than BD (e.g., Schizophrenia) 2. Meet DSM-5 criteria for moderate or severe substance use disorder (other than cannabis or tobacco) within the past 60 days 3. Any uncontrolled neurological condition (e.g., epilepsy) that could confound the results of the study 4. Any history of brain injury with loss of consciousness greater than 5 minutes 5. Any history of mental retardation, dementia, or recent electroconvulsive therapy (in the past 3 months) 6. Any uncontrolled medical condition that may adversely affect the conduct of the study or jeopardize the safety of the participant 7. Hepatocellular disease as indicated by plasma levels of liver transaminases (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase) greater than 3 times the normal range 8. Renal insufficiency as indicated by plasma levels of creatinine greater than 2 times the normal range 9. Concomitant use of medications that could interfere with glutamatergic/GABAergic transmission (e.g., benzodiazepines, ceftriaxone, riluzole, memantine, ketamine, topiramate, vigabatrin), due to potential confounding effects 10. Concomitant use of opioid medications, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, chloral hydrate, sodium oxybate, or any other medication deemed to be hazardous if taken with gabapentin 11. Azelastine, orphenadrine, oxomemazine, paraldehyde, and thalidomide are generally contraindicated in patients taking gabapentin; as such, individuals taking these medications will be excluded 12. Women of childbearing potential who are pregnant, lactating, or refuse adequate forms of contraception 13. Current suicidal or homicidal risk 14. Baseline scores greater than 35 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale or greater than 25 on the Young Mania Rating Scale 15. Has taken gabapentin in the last month or experienced adverse effects/allergic reaction (e.g., angioedema) from it at any time 16. Significant claustrophobia and/or past negative experiences with MRI 17. Presence of non-MRI safe materials in the body (e.g., ferrous metal implants, pacemaker)