Neurology Commons^™

Clinical Research Challenges: Insight From A Pilot Study At An Academic Healthcare Center, Gretchen E. Maurer

PCOM Biomedical Studies Student Scholarship

An investigational clinical research study was conducted at an academic healthcare center evaluating memantine as an adjunct to opioid therapy for treatment of chronic low back pain. The N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor is located in pain signaling neuronal synapses of the central nervous system. The receptor binds the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in addition to NMDA, to increase the magnitude of the perception of pain. Memantine (Namenda©) is a highly tolerated NMDA receptor antagonist which is currently prescribed in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The purpose of the non-randomized pilot study without placebo was to evaluate the use of adding memantine as …