58 Participants Needed

Citalopram for Parkinson's Disease

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CL
Overseen ByCate Lewis
Prior Safety DataThis treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial will test if taking citalopram for a long period can reduce harmful brain plaques in older adults with Parkinson's disease. The goal is to see if this can help prevent or slow down memory and thinking problems. The study involves patients aged 65 and older who do not have depression. Citalopram has been observed to improve motor performance in Parkinson's disease patients when combined with levodopa.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop all current medications, but you cannot participate if you've used antidepressants or certain other medications in the past year. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team.

Is citalopram safe for use in humans?

Citalopram is generally considered safe for use in adults with depression, with common side effects like nausea, dry mouth, and increased sweating being mild to moderate. However, there is a report of citalopram potentially worsening motor symptoms in a Parkinson's disease patient, suggesting caution in this specific condition.12345

How does the drug citalopram differ from other treatments for Parkinson's disease?

Citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is unique in its potential to improve bradykinesia (slowness of movement) in Parkinson's disease patients, especially those also experiencing depression. Unlike some other treatments, it may help manage both motor and mood symptoms without worsening motor performance, although its impact on L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (involuntary movements) is still under investigation.23678

Is the drug citalopram effective for treating Parkinson's disease?

Citalopram, a drug used to treat depression, has shown mixed results in Parkinson's disease. While one study found it improved movement issues like bradykinesia (slowness of movement), another case report suggested it might worsen motor symptoms. Overall, it seems to help with depression without significantly affecting Parkinson's symptoms.23679

Who Is on the Research Team?

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Vikas Kotagal, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for people aged 65 or older with Parkinson's Disease, having specific disease severity scores (HY 2.0 to 3.0). They must not have used antidepressants in the past year, have no major brain damage on imaging, no life-threatening illnesses, and cannot be pregnant or breastfeeding.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.
I am 65 years old or older.
My Parkinson's disease is at a moderate stage.

Exclusion Criteria

You are currently participating in another research study.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Your heart's electrical activity, measured on a test called an EKG, is too long.
See 15 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive citalopram 20mg daily or placebo for 26 months

26 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Citalopram
  • Placebo
Trial Overview The study tests if Citalopram can slow down the build-up of harmful plaques in a part of the brain affecting vision-related cognition in Parkinson's patients over a period of 26 months compared to a placebo.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Group I: CitalopramExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
20mg daily
Group II: PlaceboPlacebo Group1 Intervention
matching placebo pills

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,891
Recruited
6,458,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials
1,841
Recruited
28,150,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), is considered safe for treating depression in adults, including the elderly and those with mild to moderate kidney and liver issues, based on data from clinical trials and published studies.
Common side effects like nausea and dry mouth are mostly mild and transient, and citalopram does not significantly increase the risk of serious issues such as suicide or heart problems, making it comparable in safety to other SSRIs.
Overview of the safety of citalopram.Nemeroff, CB.[2022]

Citations

Worsening of Parkinson's disease by citalopram. [2019]
SSRIs do not worsen Parkinson's disease: evidence from an open-label, prospective study. [2022]
Effect of serotonin transporter blockade on L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in animal models of Parkinson's disease. [2022]
Remarkable effect of milnacipran, a serotonin-noradrenalin reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), on depressive symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease who have insufficient response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): two case reports. [2022]
The SSRI, citalopram, improves bradykinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with L-dopa. [2022]
Sertraline for the treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease. [2022]
Overview of the safety of citalopram. [2022]
The safety and tolerability of citalopram. [2022]
Effects of citalopram, a specific serotonin uptake inhibitor, in tardive dyskinesia and parkinsonism. [2019]
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