Using a new medication to help treat opioid withdrawal symptoms
Official title: Phase 1 and 2 studies of sublingual dexmedetomidine, an alpha 2 adrenergic agonist, for treating opioid withdrawal
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-10478324 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new film you place under your tongue that contains a medication called dexmedetomidine to help ease withdrawal symptoms for people dealing with opioid use disorder, especially those using strong opioids like fentanyl, and it aims to find out if this treatment is safe and works better than current options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $3,312,204 |
| NIH project number | 1UG3DA056247-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10478324 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing withdrawal symptoms from opioid use, particularly those dependent on fentanyl.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not currently experiencing opioid withdrawal or those who are not opioid-dependent may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of a sublingual film containing dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, to alleviate withdrawal symptoms in patients with opioid use disorder. The study aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of this non-opioid treatment compared to existing options, particularly for those dependent on potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Participants will be monitored for their response to the medication, including any side effects and improvements in withdrawal symptoms. The goal is to provide a more effective and safer alternative for managing opioid withdrawal.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new, effective treatment option for patients experiencing opioid withdrawal, potentially improving their chances of recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown some success with similar approaches using alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, but this specific application of dexmedetomidine is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levin, Frances Rudnick — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Levin, Frances Rudnick
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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.