Clinical Trial: Cross-over Comparison of Gabapentin and Memantine as Treatment for Acquired Nystagmus

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Investigation and Treatment of Ocular Motor Disorders: Cross-over Comparison of Gabapentin and Memantine as Treatment for Nystagmus

Brief Summary: Involuntary oscillations of the eyes (nystagmus) impairs vision so that affected patients, who have neurological disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) , cannot read or watch TV. Two medicines have been reported to suppress nystagmus and improve vision in such patients: gabapentin and memantine. The investigators set out to test which of these two drug was more effective by carrying out a double-blind cross-over study. In this way, we could determine which drug worked best in each patient.

Detailed Summary: The study entails careful measurements of visual acuity and precise measurements of eye movements, using a contact lens device (magnetic search coil method). In this way, it is possible to make objective and reliable measurements of the effect of each drug, which are unbiased by the investigator or the patient.
Sponsor: Case Western Reserve University

Current Primary Outcome:

  • Change in logMAR Visual Acuity of Each Eye, Measured During Far or Near Viewing [ Time Frame: After 2 weeks of therapy, for both drugs ]
  • Percent Change in Median Eye Speed [ Time Frame: After 2 weeks of therapy, for both drugs ]
    Median eye speed during attempted visual fixation by each eye


Original Primary Outcome:

  • Visual acuity of each eye, measured during far or near viewing [ Time Frame: After 2 weeks of therapy, for both drugs ]
  • Median eye speed during attempted visual fixation, of each eye. [ Time Frame: Measured after two weeks of therapy with either drug ]


Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome: Patient's report of whether they think that they have benefitted from either drug treatment [ Time Frame: After two weeks of therapy, for either drug ]

Information By: Case Western Reserve University

Dates:
Date Received: June 25, 2009
Date Started: February 2005
Date Completion:
Last Updated: July 28, 2016
Last Verified: July 2016