Nitrous Oxide as Treatment for Fibromyalgia

Last updated: June 5, 2025
Sponsor: University of Chicago
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Fibromyalgia

Pain (Pediatric)

Pain

Treatment

Placebo

Nitrous oxide gas for inhalation

Clinical Study ID

NCT05357066
IRB20-1169
  • Ages 18-75
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to explore a potential role of nitrous oxide in treating pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 2016 American College of Rheumatology Revised criteria for fibromyalgia (2016-ACR)

  • Subjects 18 -75 years of age.

  • Self-reported pain of at least 4 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) atscreening and baseline.

  • Subject receives and agrees to remain on their stable fibromyalgia treatment planestablished at least 4 weeks prior to dosing. Stable means no change in dose or anypain medication.

  • Ability to understand the requirements of the study, provide written informedconsent, abide by the study restrictions, and agree to return for the requiredassessments

  • If currently on psychotherapy, it must have been maintained at the same frequencyfor 4 weeks prior to treatment.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unstable doses of allowed antidepressants or muscle relaxants or dosages for anyother medical condition.

  • Pain due to concurrent autoimmune or inflammatory disease such as rheumatoidarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, or otherchronic widespread pain condition(s) that may confound fibromyalgia pain.

  • Psychiatric or cognitive disorder (e.g., current schizophrenia, severe depression,suicidal ideation, dementia, etc.) that the investigator or sponsor considerssignificant for this study.

  • Clinically significant alcohol or other substance abuse within the last 2 years, inthe opinion of the investigator.

  • Current or recent history of medically inappropriate or illegal use of drugs ofabuse including benzodiazepines, opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids, and amphetamines.

  • Current treatment with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) ligands includingketamine, amantadine, dextromethorphan, memantine, methadone, or dextropropoxyphene.

  • Subjects who are pregnant, breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant during thecourse of the study and for 28 days after the final administration ofinvestigational product.

  • Any other serious medical condition affecting heart, lung or any other organ system.

  • Any impairment, activity or situation that in the judgment of the investigator wouldprevent satisfactory completion of the study protocol.

Study Design

Total Participants: 50
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: Placebo
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
November 12, 2021
Estimated Completion Date:
December 01, 2026

Study Description

Investigators are conducting this trial to determine the efficacy of nitrous oxide on fibromyalgia, a chronic, debilitating, disorder typified by widespread musculoskeletal pain, accompanied by symptoms of fatigue, affected sleep, memory issues, and mood disorders.

Studies suggests that the chronic widespread pain seen in fibromyalgia patients has a neurogenic origin. Higher levels of ascending pathway neurochemicals, including nerve growth factor, substance P, and brain derived neurotrophic factor, are present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of fibromyalgia patients when compared to healthy controls. In addition, glutamate levels can be elevated in both the CSF and brain of fibromyalgia patients. Glutamate may play a central role, by acting on the NMDA-receptors to increase the central amplification of pain perception, which is thought to manifest as allodynia and hyperalgesia in fibromyalgia patients. NMDA-receptors are thus an attractive target for fibromyalgia therapeutic drug development.

In four other randomized controlled trial(s) to evaluate ketamine an NMDA-receptor antagonist; two demonstrated an acute reduction in VAS pain scores (20- to -25 points) 90- to 120-minutes following IV ketamine 0.3 mg/kg compared with placebo; while the other two using different drug concentrations and dose regimen (0.3 mg/kg over 30 minutes and 0.5 mg/kg for 3 hours) showed a 0.5- to 0.9-point reduction in pain scores (10-cm VAS) at 90 to 180 minutes following IV ketamine compared with placebo. Although all four trials demonstrated significant acute pain improvement during and immediately following the infusions, there were no sustained improvements.

Given nitrous oxide is another drug with known NMDA-receptor antagonism, this trial will evaluate the efficacy of inhaled 50% nitrous oxide compared to placebo (oxygen-air mixture). Study participants with a clinical diagnosis of fibromyalgia, meeting 2016-Fibromyalgia Diagnostic Criteria (2016-ACR) and neuropathic pain criterion will be randomly assigned to receive two, 60-minute inhalation sessions (50% nitrous oxide and placebo).

Treatment outcomes will be monitored using diagnostic tools measuring functionality, pain, and mood:

  • Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

  • Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR)

  • Patients Global Impression of Change Scale (PGIC)

  • Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

  • Computerized Adaptive Test-Mental Health (CAT-MH)

Connect with a study center

  • University of Chicago

    Chicago, Illinois 60637
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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