Efficacy of Two Doses of Duloxetine and Amitriptyline in Subjects With Refractory Chronic Cough
A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Dose-escalation Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Two Doses of Duloxetine & Amitriptyline in Subjects With Refractory Chronic Cough
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 18 Years to 75 Years
- Sex
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
- Time periods mentioned: 2 weeks
Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.
Show the study's own words
- "Subjects will be screened during a period of up to 2 week and will undergo screening/ baseline cough monitoring."
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
In plain language
This study tests whether increasing doses of amitriptyline and duloxetine help people cough less often. It is for people who have had a cough for at least one year that has not improved with treatment or has no known cause.
This research study is evaluating the effectiveness of escalating doses of Amitriptyline and Duloxetine in reducing cough frequency in patients with refractory chronic cough (RCC)
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Who can join
- Have a cough that has not improved with treatment or has no known cause for at least one year.
- Have a chest X-ray or CT scan from the past year showing no problem that the study doctor thinks is a major cause of the cough.
- Score at least 40 mm on the study’s cough severity scale at screening.
- Women who can become pregnant must follow the study’s birth control rules and not donate eggs from screening through the 8-week study. Two accepted methods or complete abstinence are allowed.
- Men with partners who can become pregnant must use two accepted birth control methods, including a barrier such as a condom. They must not donate sperm from screening until three months after the last dose.
- Sign a form agreeing to take part after learning about the study.
- Be willing and able to follow all study rules.
Who can't join
- Smoke cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or marijuana now or within the past year. Former smokers cannot have more than 20 pack-years of smoking, such as one pack daily for 20 years.
- Have certain lung diseases, including COPD, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, or cystic fibrosis; a breathing test ratio below 60%; or a recent airway infection or major breathing change within four weeks.
- Have an untreated or poorly treated cause of cough, such as asthma, acid reflux, or mucus draining down the throat.
- Need medicines the study does not allow, including certain cough medicines and antidepressants. Some must be stopped at least two weeks before screening; ACE inhibitors, a type of blood pressure medicine, and prior amitriptyline or duloxetine for cough require 12 weeks.
- Use an opioid pain medicine or baclofen for cough within two weeks before screening. Use for other reasons is allowed. Experimental treatments within four weeks are also excluded, except COVID vaccines and COVID antibody treatments.
- Have certain high liver blood test results, advanced liver disease, serious kidney problems, or dialysis. A past allergy or inability to tolerate amitriptyline or duloxetine also rules out joining.
- Be pregnant or breastfeeding, or have another health problem that the study team believes could make the study unsafe or affect the results.
- Have surgery, travel, or other plans that would prevent following study rules, or have joined another trial within four weeks that does not allow taking part in both studies.
Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria * Chest radiograph or computed tomography (CT) of the thorax within the last 1 year not demonstrating any abnormality considered to be significantly contributing to the refractory chronic cough in the opinion of the Principal Investigator * Have a diagnosis of refractory chronic cough or unexplained cough for at least one year according to the American College of Chest Physicians guidelines * Have a score of ≥ 40mm on the Cough Severity VAS at Screening. * Women of child-bearing potential must agree to use 2 forms of acceptable birth control and make no donation of eggs from Screening through the end of the 8-week study period. Acceptable birth control methods include established use of oral, injected, or implanted hormonal methods of contraception; intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS); tubal ligation; or male sterilization. Double-barrier method (diaphragm for female subject and condom for male partner with spermicidal) satisfies the requirement for 2 forms of acceptable birth control. When concordant with the preferred lifestyle of the subject, true and complete abstinence (not periodic abstinence) is acceptable. * Male subjects and their partners of child-bearing potential must use 2 methods of acceptable birth control, 1 of which must be a barrier method, and make no donation of sperm from Screening until 3 months after the last dose of study drug at the end of 8 weeks. * Have provided written informed consent. * Are willing and able to comply with all aspects of the protocol. Exclusion Criteria * Current smoker (cigarettes, e-cigarettes or marijuana) or former smokers who have smoked within the past 12 months. * Former smokers with \> 20 pack-year history of smoking * Ongoing treatment with an ACE-inhibitor that is considered as the potential cause of a subject's cough or requiring treatment with an ACE-inhibitor during the study or within 12 weeks prior to the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0). * FEV1/FVC \< 60%. * History of upper or lower respiratory tract infection or recent significant change in pulmonary status within 4 weeks of the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0) * History of opioid use specifically prescribed for chronic cough within 2 weeks of the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0). Use of opioids for other indications (for example, to treat pain) is permitted. * History of baclofen use specifically prescribed for chronic cough within 2 weeks of the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0). Use of baclofen for other indications (for example, to treat spasticity) is permitted. * Diagnosis of COPD, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease or cystic fibrosis * Presence of an untreated or undertreated cause for the patient's chronic cough (as determined by the treating/referring physician per ACCP guidelines). e.g. uncontrolled asthma, GERD or post-nasal drainage that could potentially explain the patient's chronic cough. * Requiring concomitant therapy with prohibited medications (outlined below) * Treatment with any pharmaceutical or biological investigational therapy (excluding coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID) vaccination and COVID related monoclonal antibody therapy) * Participation in another clinical trial that does not allow co-enrollment within 4 weeks prior to the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0) * Total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \> 3x the upper limit of normal (ULN) during screening. * Serum creatinine \< 30 mL/min, hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis * Advanced liver disease as defined by the presence of cirrhosis and/or signs of portal hypertension * History of previous hypersensitivity or intolerance to Duloxetine \& Amitriptyline (patients who have previously been on either amitriptyline or duloxetine for chronic cough or other reasons and have tolerated the medication will be offered participation regardless of previous response to therapy). * Currently pregnant or breastfeeding female subject. * Presence of any medical condition or disability that the investigators believe could interfere with the assessment of safety or efficacy in this trial or compromise the safety of the subject. * Planned or anticipated major surgical procedure or other activity that would interfere with the subject's ability to comply with protocol-mandated assessments (e.g., extended travel) during the subject's participation in the study. * Currently taking either another SSRI, SNRI or MAO inhibitor which the patient cannot safely discontinue at least 2 weeks prior to the screening period. * The following therapies are prohibited from 2 week prior to the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0) through the end of the 8-week blinded treatment period. * Opioids (of any kind including tramadol \& codeine) specifically prescribed for treatment of cough * Dextromethorphan * Guaifenesin * Chlorpheniramine * Benzonatate * Trazodone * Pregabalin or gabapentin prescribed for chronic cough * 1% tetracaine lollipops prescribed for chronic cough * 4% nebulized lidocaine solution prescribed for chronic cough * Any SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) e.g. bupropion, citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine. * Any SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) e.g. venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, milnacipran, levomilnacipran * Any Tricyclic antidepressant e.g. doxepin, clomipramine, nortriptyline, imipramine, protriptyline, amoxapine, trimipramine * Any MAO (Monoamine oxidase) inhibitor. e.g. phenelzine, selegiline, isocarboxacid or tranylcypromine * Patients who were previously prescribed either amitriptyline or duloxetine for chronic cough will be eligible for the study as long as they had discontinued the medication at least 12 weeks prior to the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0). * The following therapies are prohibited from 4 week prior to the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0) through the end of the 8-week blinded treatment period. • Investigational biologic or pharmaceutical therapies (excluding COVID vaccination and COVID related monoclonal antibody therapy) * The following therapies are prohibited from 12 week prior to the Screening/Baseline Visit (Day -14 to Day 0) through the end of the 8-week blinded treatment period. * Treatment with an ACE-inhibitor
Study sites (1)
MN
- Mayo Clinic in Rochester · Rochester, MN 55905Sue Ann Donlinger · Study contact · 507-284-9259 · Donlinger.SueAnn@mayo.eduVivek N Iyer, M.D, M.P.H · Principal investigatorAshley M Egan, M.D. · Sub-investigatorSumera R Ahmad, M.D. · Sub-investigatorMore trials in Rochester