An open label pilot study of intranasal oxytocin for methamphetamine withdrawal in women

Investigators: A/Prof Shalini Arunogiri, Prof Dan Lubman, A/Prof Victoria Manning, Dr Gill Bedi. A/Prof Rebecca McKetin, Professor Iain McGregor and A/Prof Femke Buisman-Pijlman

This study, led by Dr Shalini Arunogiri, is a novel pilot study aiming to trial a world-first approach to improving treatment outcomes for individuals experiencing methamphetamine withdrawal. The research team will investigate the effectiveness of an investigational medication, oxytocin, in improving a range of addiction treatment outcomes during a one-week residential withdrawal admission (detox), as well as the early recovery period. They aim to identify whether oxytocin will help treat withdrawal symptoms and craving and whether it will assist in improving the likelihood of completion of detox. The study has a specific focus on women as the literature suggests that responses to oxytocin may be sex-specific. Women have also been identified as an underresearched group experiencing significant methamphetamine-related burden with no sex-specific treatment approaches currently available. The study is currently in preparation and we will be aiming to recruit participants in late 2020.

Project funder

National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED)

Project partners

A collaboration between Turning Point & Monash Addiction Research Centre