Grief pill study stalls: naltrexone trial ends early
NCT ID NCT06140420
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether the drug naltrexone could help people with prolonged grief disorder, a condition where grief lasts a long time and causes severe distress. Participants took naltrexone or a placebo for 8 weeks and had monthly check-ins. However, the study was terminated early and only included 7 people, so it does not provide clear answers.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Naltrexone (oral tablet)
- What this could lead to
- If it worked, this could point toward a medication to ease the intense pain of prolonged grief disorder.
- What could go wrong
- The study was terminated early and only enrolled 7 people, so we cannot draw reliable conclusions. Naltrexone may cause side effects like nausea or headache.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
-
7 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Aug 2023
- Finished
-
Feb 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 120 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years of age or older. * Lives within a reasonable distance from NYPH for convenient clinic visits. * Can speak, read, and write English proficiently. * Meet diagnostic criteria for PGD based on the DSM guidelines * If a female patient, must agree to use a method of contraception and be willing and able to continue contraception during the first 8 weeks of the study while she is taking the study drug. Female patients who are planning to use oral hormonal contraception during this time must have initiated it at least 2 months prior to the baseline visit. * If a male patient, must agree to use a method of contraception and be willing and able to continue contraception during the first 8 weeks of the study while he is taking the study drug. Exclusion Criteria: • Having recently started taking/prescribed medications for any psychiatric illness (e.g. SSRIs for MDD) within the past 3 months; participants who have been taking this medication for longer than 3 months can be included. * Having recently started psychotherapy for any psychiatric illness within the past 3 months; participants who have been receiving psychotherapy for longer than 3 months can be included. * Prior history of recently active (e.g. within the past 3 months) opioid dependence. * Current prescription, non-prescription, or illicit opioid use, (i.e., acute use within the past 14 days or chronic use within the last 30 days), including opioid antagonists for alcohol or opioid dependence, all opioid analgesics, certain cough and cold remedies (e.g., codeine), and certain anti-diarrheal preparations (e.g., loperamide). * Possible future use of opioids during the study (e.g. for surgery). * Current use of leflunomide (Arava), droperidol (Droleptan), diazepam (Valium), thioridazine (Mellaril, Novoridazine, Thioril), or any other clinically relevant medication that has potential to cause liver injury with concurrent use of naltrexone. * Currently pregnant, lactating, or planning to become pregnant during the study. * Active hepatitis or liver disease. * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels more than one standard deviation (SD) above the upper limit of normal on initial laboratory examination. Screen positive for active suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Texas Tech Health Science Center
Lubbock, Texas, 79409, United States
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