Completed

A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Study of Repeat Dosing of OROS® Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (CONCERTA®) and Immediate Release Methylphenidate Hydrochloride in Healthy Adults

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What is being tested

OROS-Methylphenidate

+ Immediate Release Methylphenidate

+ Placebo

Drug
Who is being recruted

From 18 to 45 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Basic Science Study

Placebo-ControlledPhase 4
Interventional
Study Start: January 2006
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital
Last updated: January 27, 2026
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Study start date: January 1, 2006

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

The main goal of this study is to assess whether the abuse liability potential of delayed, repeated administrations of different formulations of MPH is moderated by the oral delivery system in which a delivery system with slower onset may be safer than one with more rapid early release. To this end, the investigators will compare repeated administration of orally administered, therapeutic doses of a short (IR-MPH) and a long-acting formulation of MPH (OROS-MPH) in the following areas: 1. pharmacokinetic profile of MPH assessing rate of onset of MPH action (indexed through change in plasma level) and 2. abuse liability (indexed through detection and likeability). The investigators will test all combinations of initial administration and then delayed (repeated) administration of the two formulations: IR-MPH to IR-MPH; IR-MPH to OROS-MPH; OROS-MPH to IR-MPH; OROS-MPH to OROS-MPH, and placebo to placebo.

Official TitleA Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Study of Repeat Dosing of OROS® Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (CONCERTA®) and Immediate Release Methylphenidate Hydrochloride in Healthy Adults
NCT00302458
Principal SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

44 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Basic Science Study

Basic science studies help researchers understand how the body works or how a disease develops. They don't test treatments, but they build the foundation for future therapies.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

From 18 to 45 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Males or non-pregnant, non-lactating females. With the exception of women who have been post-menopausal for a minimum of 12 months prior to screening and those who have undergone hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy, all female subjects must have a negative urine pregnancy test at both screening and at each admission to the research unit. All male and female subjects must have used a medically acceptable form of birth control for at least one month prior to screening and be willing to continue use during the study. Medically acceptable forms of birth control include abstinence, hormonal contraceptives, diaphragm with spermicide, condom with spermicide, intrauterine device, or surgical sterilization (including vasectomy of male partner\[s\]). 2. Eighteen (18) to 45 years of age, inclusive 3. Based on medical history, limited physical examination (neurologic and cardiac) and/or lab results, are considered healthy and free of any conditions that may interfere with participation in the study. Any abnormalities at screening on results of electrocardiogram (ECG) or any laboratory test must be determined to be not clinically significant by an investigator. 4. Agree to not use prescription stimulants (except for the study medication) during the study 5. Have venous access sufficient for blood sampling as determined by clinical examination 6. Weigh at least 100 pounds at screening 7. Agree and are available to return to the study center for five full-day (approximately 18 hours) study visits held five to 30 days apart within a 22-week period, and willing to complete all protocol-specified assessments. 8. Able to read and comprehend English Exclusion Criteria: 1. Marked anxiety, tension, and agitation since the drug may aggravate these symptoms 2. Known hypersensitivity to methylphenidate or other components of Concerta or Ritalin 3. Subjects with glaucoma 4. Motor tics or with a family history or diagnosis of Tourette's syndrome 5. Treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or within 14 days of discontinuation of treatment with MAOIs 6. Presence or history of any medically diagnosed, clinically significant Axis I psychiatric disorder (including substance use disorders, bipolar disorder, any psychotic disorder) 7. Scores of Baseline Scales: * Hamilton Depression Scale \> 17 (out of a possible 67 on the 21-item scale) (Hamilton 1960) * Beck Depression Inventory \> 19 (out of a possible 63 on the 21-item scale) (Beck et al 1961) * Hamilton Anxiety Scale \> 21 (out of a possible 56 on the 14-item scale) (Hamilton 1959) 8. Any clinically significant chronic disease or unstable medical abnormality by history or physical examination, including hypertension, hyperthyroidism, a seizure disorder, history of myocardial infarction or stroke, or history of cardiac arrhythmia or heart murmur (other than uncomplicated mitral valve prolapse) 9. Clinically significant abnormal baseline laboratory values which include the following: * Values \> 20% above the upper range of the laboratory standard of a basic metabolic screen and complete blood count * Exclusionary blood pressure \> 140 (systolic) and 90 (diastolic). * Exclusionary ECG parameters: QTC \> 460 msec, QRS \> 120 msec, and PR \> 200 msec. Subjects having ECG evidence of ischemia or arrhythmia as reviewed by an independent cardiologist 10. Currently taking or require any of the following medications: * Clonidine or other alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists * Tricyclic antidepressants * Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) * Theophylline * Coumarin anticoagulants * Anticonvulsants * Prescription stimulants 11. Have taken an SSRI in the 35 days before initiation of the study medication 12. Currently physically dependent on benzodiazepines, opiates or alcohol as determined by clinical evaluation or positive urine drug screen at screening 13. Preexisting severe gastrointestinal narrowing (pathologic or iatrogenic, for example: small bowel inflammatory disease, "short gut" syndrome due to adhesions or decreased transit time, past history of peritonitis, cystic fibrosis, chronic intestinal pseudoabsorption, or Meckel's diverticulum) 14. Unable to swallow the study medication whole 15. Have had a significant blood loss (\> 500 mL) or donated blood in the 30 days preceding dosing 16. Have a positive urine drug screen at screening 17. Have taken an investigational medication or product within the past 30 days 18. Have taken prescription medications (with the exception of birth control methods) within seven days of screening or is anticipated to need any medications, over-the-counter products (other than acetaminophen), or herbal supplements during the study

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

5 intervention groups are designated in this study

20% chance of being blinded to the placebo group

Treatment Groups

Group I

Experimental
Immediate release Methylphenidate will be administered in the first part of the day, followed by Concerta in the second part of the day

Group II

Experimental
Concerta will be administered in the first part of the day, followed by Immediate Release Methylphenidate in the second part of the day.

Group III

Experimental
OROS-Methylphenidate Will be administered during the first part of the day, and again during the separate part of the day.

Group IV

Experimental
Immediate release methylphenidate will be administered in the first part of the day followed by Immediate release methylphenidate in the second part of the day.

Group 5

Placebo
Placebo will be administered during the first part of the day, and again during the second part of the day.

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.

This study has 1 location

Suspended

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, United StatesOpen Massachusetts General Hospital in Google Maps
CompletedOne Study Center