Can a Two-Week pill fix the Brain's reward system in depression?

NCT ID NCT07523048

Recruiting now Symptom relief Sponsor: Roger McIntyre Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a medication called dextromethorphan-bupropion (Auvelity) can change brain activity related to reward and motivation in adults with major depression. Thirty participants will take the pill daily for two weeks and undergo brain scans to see if the drug affects how the brain responds to rewards. The goal is to understand if this treatment can help improve the lack of enjoyment often felt in depression.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: dextromethorphan-bupropion (Auvelity)
What this could lead to: If this works, it could show that Auvelity helps restore enjoyment and motivation in people with depression by changing how the brain processes rewards.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase study with only 30 participants and no placebo group, so results may not apply broadly. The two-week treatment period is very short, and the main outcome is a brain scan change, not a direct measure of mood improvement.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

major depressive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER (MDD)

Contacts and locations

Locations

Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation
RECRUITING

Toronto, Ontario, M5S1M2, Canada

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