Gabapentin to help people with HIV reach and keep HIV control by reducing alcohol use
Official title: Gabapentin to Reduce Alcohol and Improve Viral Load Suppression - Promoting "Treatment as Prevention"
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11569957 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinical trial will test whether gabapentin can help people with HIV who drink heavily to reduce alcohol use and achieve better HIV viral load control.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $172,325 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AA030460-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11569957 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with HIV who drink heavily and have had detectable HIV viral load in the past year.
✕Less likely to help
People with HIV who do not have unhealthy alcohol use or who already have full viral suppression may not benefit.
What this research studies
This trial enrolls adults with HIV who drink heavily and have not consistently suppressed their viral load. Participants will be randomly assigned to gabapentin or placebo for a defined period, with researchers tracking alcohol use, ART adherence, and HIV viral load. The study uses a double-blind design so neither participants nor researchers know who receives the drug, ensuring unbiased results. If gabapentin helps reduce drinking and improves viral suppression, it could support a new way to enhance HIV care and prevent transmission.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants and others like them may achieve better HIV control and overall health through reduced alcohol use and improved ART adherence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest reducing alcohol use can improve HIV outcomes, but this exact gabapentin approach for HVL suppression is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Samet, Jeffrey H. — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Samet, Jeffrey H.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.