Novel Use of Probenecid to Alleviate Symptoms of Opioid Withdrawal

The proposed clinical trial will address the problem of opioid withdrawal. Opioids are essential for pain-relief in the short term, but their continued use is associated with a host of adverse effects. People living with chronic pain who were initiated on opioid therapy now find themselves with a major life-changing problem - dependence on opioid medications. Opioid withdrawal symptoms are a key barrier to decreasing or stopping their opioid medication. Currently, there are few medications that ameliorate the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. This problem is a major part of the opioid crisis in Canada, and impacts people across all demographics and socioeconomic status. A misconception is that only individuals with opioid use disorder are susceptible to opioid withdrawal; on the contrary, appropriate use of prescription opioids to manage pain can lead to significant symptoms of opioid withdrawal when it is reduced or stopped. Patients in Alberta who are at risk for opioid withdrawal, either from prescribed use or misuse will be primarily impacted by this trial.

Our team has recently explored the underlying causes of opioid withdrawal and identified an important target in the spinal cord that is responsible for producing withdrawal symptoms in rats and mice. The target, a protein called pannexin-1 (Panx1), is located throughout the body, specifically in the brain and spinal cord. Using sophisticated biochemical, genetic, and pharmacological techniques, the investigators demonstrated how Panx1 on immune cells is implicated in the production of opioid withdrawal symptoms after cessation of fentanyl and morphine in opioid dependent rodents. The investigators then attenuated these symptoms of withdrawal using probenecid, a drug which inherently blocks Panx1 activity. Because probenecid is a safe and clinically available drug, the findings could be immediately translated into clinical therapy to support people who are struggling with the symptoms of opioid withdrawal and provide clinicians with a safe and effective option for caring for this population.

Probenecid was initially developed in the early 1950s as a tool to enhance the activity of penicillin and allow for outpatient treatment of various infections. It increases plasma levels and the half-life of weak organic acids (penicillins, cephalosporins, or other beta-lactam antibiotics) by competitively inhibiting their renal tubular secretion. As a result, it became widely used in combination with beta-lactam antibacterial agents. It is still occasionally used today in combination with cefazolin for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections, and in combination with cefoxitin or doxycycline as an option for outpatient treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Probenacid also competitively inhibits active reabsorption of uric acid at the level of the proximal convoluted tubule promoting excretion of uric acid, thereby reducing serum urate concentrations.

Probenecid is also used in combination with cidofovir for the prevention of cidofovir-related nephrotoxicity when used to treat cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with HIV. More recently, the effects of probenecid on serotonin levels and TRPV2 channels has led to speculation about its utility in depression, Parkinson's Disease, and congestive heart failure.

The drug is no longer commercially available in Canada but is commercially available as 500 mg tablets in the United States which can be acquired through Health Canada's Special Access Program. Probenecid can, however, be prepared in Canada by compounding pharmacies.

The study is a single centre, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week clinical trial meant to study probenecid use among adult participants living with chronic non-cancer pain using opioid drug therapy on a daily basis and planning to voluntarily reduce their dose.