Maximizing Analgesia to Reduce Pain in Knee Osteoarthritis

Maximizing Analgesia to Reduce Pain Sensitivity in Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis Pain Patients

This research is being done to evaluate whether combining medications that are FDA approved, but have not yet been approved for combination treatment, can be effective in reducing pain.

This study will evaluate whether a combination of pharmacotherapies can effectively alleviate pain. Subjects will complete two screening sessions before completing four study sessions that will occur once weekly. Participants will receive double blind doses of study medications the morning of each experimental session day and will undergo standardized pain testing, physical functioning assessment, blood draws, ratings of drug effects and cognitive testing.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis
• Urine sample tests negative for common illicit substances of abuse (e.g., cannabis)
• Medically cleared to take study medications
• Are not pregnant or breast feeding
• Willing to comply with the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pain other than Knee Osteoarthritis
• Taking opioids for pain
• Prescribed and taking gabapentinoid, Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA), venlafaxine, duloxetine, stimulants or benzodiazepines
• Presence of any clinically significant medical/psychiatric illness judged by the investigators to put subject at elevated risk for experiencing an adverse event
• Known allergy to the blinded study medications