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New treatment option for Autism
Official title Trial of Diphenhydramine for Sleep in Children With Autism
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05501678
What this study is testing
What is Diphenhydramine?
Diphenhydramine is an investigational medicine, given as a pill taken by mouth, being studied as a potential treatment for autism.
Also referred to as Benadryl.
Plain-language explanation of the investigational treatment - it is being studied and is not an approved or proven therapy. The study team can confirm the details.
- What it's testing
- The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of diphenhydramine on sleep in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Diphenhydramine is an anti-histaminergic agent with strong hypnotic properties.
- Phase 2: a mid-size study of how well it works
- You might receive a placebo (an inactive treatment) instead of the study drug, decided by chance. You may not know which one you got.
A plain-language read of the study's public ClinicalTrials.gov listing. The study team confirms the details.
Who can take part
Ages 8 to 17
You may be able to join if
- Participants will meet the following
- Outpatients between 8 and 17 years of age at the time of consent
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the basis of clinical evaluation, confirmed...
- Males and females
- Availability of polysomnography (PSG) or actigraphy data
You likely can't join if
- Participants will be excluded if one or more of the following is met
- active suicidal ideation or DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic disorder
- active medical problems: migraine, asthma, seizure disorder, significant physical illness (e.g., anaphylaxis, serious liver, renal, or cardiac...
- evidence of a metabolic, or infectious etiology for the participant's autism on the basis of medical history, neurologic history, and available tests...
- pregnant or sexually active females not using a reliable method of contraception (urinary tests for pregnancy will be employed in this study)
- individuals taking benzodiazepines, antiepileptic medications when prescribed for seizure disorder/epilepsy, melatonin and centrally-acting...
See the full eligibility criteria
- Participants will meet the following
- Outpatients between 8 and 17 years of age at the time of consent
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on the basis of clinical evaluation, confirmed with the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism...
- Males and females
- Availability of polysomnography (PSG) or actigraphy data
- Sleep disturbances as assessed using Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) with a score of 41 or higher
- care provider who can reliably bring participant to clinic visits, provide trustworthy ratings, and interacts with participant on a regular basis
- stable medications for at least 2 weeks, with the exception of Prozac which is required to be stable for at least 4 weeks
- no planned changes in psychosocial and biomedical interventions during the trial
- willingness to provide additional saliva samples and participate in key study procedures (i.e., safety measurements every visit, PSG at weeks 4 and 8, and wear the actigraphy watch for 2 weeks before the beginning of...
- Participants will be excluded if one or more of the following is met
- active suicidal ideation or DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or psychotic disorder
- active medical problems: migraine, asthma, seizure disorder, significant physical illness (e.g., anaphylaxis, serious liver, renal, or cardiac pathology)
- evidence of a metabolic, or infectious etiology for the participant's autism on the basis of medical history, neurologic history, and available tests for inborn errors of metabolism and chromosomal analysis
- pregnant or sexually active females not using a reliable method of contraception (urinary tests for pregnancy will be employed in this study)
- individuals taking benzodiazepines, antiepileptic medications when prescribed for seizure disorder/epilepsy, melatonin and centrally-acting antihistamines
- history of hypersensitivity to diphenhydramine
- history of severe side effects from diphenhydramine
- history of adequate trial of diphenhydramine
- current use of any medications known to interact with diphenhydramine such as medications inhibiting CYP2D6
- taking anticholinergic agents (e.g., trihexyphenidyl, thioridazine).
The study team makes the final eligibility decision.
Where it's taking place
- Stanford, California, United States
Questions & answers
Do participants get paid in this trial?
This listing doesn't specify compensation. Many trials still reimburse travel or offer a stipend, so it's worth asking the study team when you connect.
Is it free to join, and do I need insurance?
Searching and applying through BridgeMD is free. In clinical trials the study-related treatment and visits are generally provided at no cost to you. You usually don't need insurance to take part - confirm specifics with the study team.
How long does this study last?
The listing doesn't state an exact length. The study team walks you through the schedule and number of visits before you decide to enroll.
Who can join this trial?
This study is enrolling all sexes, 8 years to 17 years. The study team makes the final eligibility decision.
Where is this trial taking place?
Study sites include Stanford, California, United States. Enter your location above to see the nearest site and check your eligibility.
Explore other conditions
BridgeMD is an information and trial-matching tool - not medical advice, and not the study sponsor. Details come from ClinicalTrials.gov; the study team decides eligibility.