HIC# 2000023970
Drinking Behavior and Guanfacine Study
Yale University researchers are partnering with individuals who want to stop or cut down on drinking alcohol for a treatment research study. Help further clinical research. Join today!
Fast Facts
21-70 years old
alcohol use disorder
Compensation Provided
Conducted in new haven, CT
Study Background
In this study, we are seeking individuals who are interested in reducing or cutting back their drinking behavior. We will be looking at how the medication Intuniv, which is Guanfacine, influences drinking behavior. Guanfacine is a medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat high blood pressure and ADHD.
If you decide to participate in the study, you will receive the study medication or a placebo, which is a sugar pill. You can earn up to $2,017 for completing all phases of this study.
Help advance research and join our compensated study today!
Study Background
In this study, we are seeking individuals who are interested in reducing or cutting back their drinking behavior. We will be looking at how the medication Intuniv, which is Guanfacine, influences drinking behavior. Guanfacine is a medication that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat high blood pressure and ADHD.
If you decide to participate in the study, you will receive the study medication or a placebo, which is a sugar pill. You can earn up to $2,017 for completing all phases of this study.
Help advance research and join our compensated study today!
Additional Information
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Key Criteria:
- 21-70 years old or older
- Able to read and write English
- Able to take oral medications and willing to adhere to medication regimen
- Motivated to reduce drinking
This study consists of three phases. The first phase involves an interview to determine your eligibility. During this time, you will be asked questions about your drinking and health history and you will fill out some paperwork. You should know that there are mandatory drug screens at every appointment. If you are positive for any medications or illegal substances that you didn’t report before coming in, you will be dismissed immediately without pay.
If you are eligible based on this first appointment, you will then be scheduled for a physical exam. If you are eligible following the physical exam, you will then begin Phase 2 of the study, which involves a 3-week medication period and three laboratory sessions. During the 3-week medication period, you’ll be randomly assigned to take either Intuniv or a placebo. Each week you’ll attend an outpatient visit and be contacted by phone on separate days. You will then attend 3 laboratory sessions.
During the lab sessions, you will be drinking, filling out questionnaires, and have an IV inserted for blood draws. When you are not doing anything for the study, you can watch television, watch movies, read, bring in things to work on (homework, crossword puzzles, etc.), or work on any hobbies you might have in the privacy of your own room.
The third phase, which is the treatment phase, will begin once you have completed all 3 lab sessions. You will return to our office weekly for 6 weeks and meet with a psychologist who will talk with you about your goal of reducing alcohol use. You will continue taking the medication during these 6 weeks. You will be provided with a Garmin wristband and Android smartphone to use for the 6 weeks to track stress and drinking behavior. You will wear the Garmin and interact with the smartphone daily. At the end of the 6-week treatment phase, you will be given a 5 day taper supply of the medication to safely stop taking the medication.
You will return to our office for follow-up appointments 1 and 3 months after the 6-week treatment phase has ended.
