Acetazolamide for Treatment Resistant Schizophrenia

Launched by VISHWAJIT NIMGAONKAR, MD PHD · May 13, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring the use of a medication called acetazolamide to help people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder who have not responded well to other treatments. The study is designed to be fair and unbiased, meaning that neither the participants nor the researchers will know who is receiving acetazolamide and who is receiving a placebo (a pill with no active ingredients). They are currently looking for participants aged 18 to 55 years who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and are stable on their current antipsychotic medication for at least a month.

To participate, individuals need to give their consent and meet certain health criteria, such as having a specific score indicating the severity of their symptoms. Participants can expect to take part in a study that may help improve treatment options for schizophrenia. It’s important to note that individuals with a history of substance abuse, certain medical conditions, or those who are pregnant may not be eligible. If you or someone you know is interested in this trial, it could be a chance to contribute to important research while exploring a potential new treatment.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Written informed consent.
• • Both genders, ages 18-55 years (older patients may not tolerate high ACZ dose).
• • PANSS total score \> 60 and Score \> 4 on one or more items of the 'positive' syndrome items (P1-P7), following treatment at therapeutic doses for 6 weeks with different APDs on 2 occasions.
• • Stable dose of antipsychotic drug (APD) for \> 1 month, continued throughout the study.
• • Not participating in another randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Substance abuse in the past month/dependence past 6 months with the exception of methadone prescribed for opiate withdrawal.
• • History or current medical/neurological illnesses that may lead to unstable course, e.g., epilepsy.
• • Pregnancy.
• • Acetazolamide (ACZ) contraindications: hypersensitivity to ACZ; history of renal hyperchloremic acidosis; Addison's disease/adrenal failure; chronic closed angle-closure glaucoma.
• • Current or prior treatment with ACZ or history of hypersensitivity to ACZ.
• • Intellectual disability as defined in DSM 5.