Eye cells may hold key to better sleep for people on opioid treatment
NCT ID NCT06104280
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study looks at why people taking medications for opioid use disorder often have trouble sleeping. Researchers think special light-sensitive cells in the eye might be involved. They will measure pupil responses, brain waves during sleep, and daily sleep patterns in 200 adults to better understand the link.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this research could point toward new ways to improve sleep and reduce relapse in people treated for opioid use disorder.
- What could go wrong
- This is an observational study, not a treatment trial. It is early-stage and may not lead to any direct changes in care.
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.
- Participants
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About 200 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Expected to finish
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Jan 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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.
Who is studied
This study involves people who are receiving one of three medications for opioid use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone) or healthy controls.
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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: 1. Adults (18+) 2. prescribed one of three medications for opioid use disorder (methadone, XR-NTX, buprenorphine) or healthy control 3. stable on MOUD (no dose change) for the past month 4. positive on urine drug screen (UDS) for buprenorphine or methadone if prescribed those medications Exclusion Criteria: 1. eye disease reported by history or noted on exam including disease of the anterior and posterior segment of the eye, cataracts, retinopathy, glaucoma, cataracts, amblyopia, scotoma, color or night blindness, corneal pathologies, macular degeneration, or retinitis pigmentosa; 2. acutely suicidal, manic, intoxicated, or otherwise not stable enough to provide informed consent 3. self-reported use of illicit opioids, stimulants (prescribed or illicit), or benzodiazepines/sedative/hypnotics in the past month 4. alcohol or cannabis use disorder measured as severe on The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Checklist 5. positive on UDS for illicit opioids (e.g., morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl),stimulants, benzodiazepines/sedative/hypnotics 6. shift workers who work outside normal 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. hours, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 7. persons diagnosed with narcolepsy
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
RECRUITINGBirmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can a personalized mix of nerve stimulation and therapy rewire the brain for better mental health?