Could a brain drug curb meth addiction?
NCT ID NCT03341078
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 24, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether ibudilast, a drug that reduces brain inflammation, can help people addicted to methamphetamine. 176 participants took either ibudilast or a placebo for 6 weeks. Researchers used brain scans and thinking tests to see if the drug improved brain function and connectivity.
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon, 97207-2964, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
ibudilast
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward a new medication to help people stop using methamphetamine.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase trial focused on brain changes, not on stopping drug use directly. The drug may not work in larger studies.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.