New hope for spinal cord pain: drug combo shows promise
NCT ID NCT02218203
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether combining two drugs—dextromethorphan (taken by mouth) and lidocaine (given through a vein)—can reduce central neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury. 26 adults with moderate or worse pain for at least 3 months took part. Each person received different dose combinations in a random order to see which worked best.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Dextromethorphan and lidocaine
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new drug combination to ease chronic pain after spinal cord injury.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 26 people. Results may not apply to everyone, and the drugs may cause side effects or not work better than placebo.
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 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
26 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
-
Apr 2003
- Finished
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Jan 2008
- 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 70 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Healthy male or female adults, age 18 to 70 with central neuropathic pain for a minimum of 3 months following SCI as confirmed by neurologic evaluation, with an average pain intensity score of at least moderate over at least 50% of the day for the 7 days prior to the screening visit and over the 7 days prior to starting study medication. 2. Subjects used no medication or a stabilized medication regimen for chronic and well-controlled medical conditions 3. Serum laboratory examination obtained at study entry: 4. Normal cognitive function. 5. Signed informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pregnancy or breast-feeding. 2. Renal or hepatic dysfunction. 3. Significant cardiac disease (e.g. MI within 1 year). 4. Signs or symptoms of central neurological disorder, excluding SCI. 5. Severe psychological disorder requiring treatment. 6. History of hypersensitivity or intolerance to dextromethorphan or lidocaine. 7. Participation in a study of an investigational drug or device within 30 days prior to screening for this study.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Translational Pain Research, Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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