Evaluating a Potential Pharmacokinetic Kratom-oxycodone Interaction Concurrent With Clinical Endpoints

Evaluating a Potential Pharmacokinetic Kratom-oxycodone Interaction Concurrent With Clinical Endpoints

The goal of this study is to investigate whether the botanical product kratom affects how the body processes the opioid drug oxycodone. The main research questions to be answered are two-fold:

1. How does kratom affect the manner in which oxycodone is metabolized (broken down and removed) by the body?
2. Does kratom change the effects oxycodone exerts on the body?

Healthy adult participants will complete four study arms, during which they will be given the following:

• Kratom (as a tea)
• A single dose of oxycodone (as a tablet)
• Kratom tea and a single dose of oxycodone
• Kratom tea for four days, then kratom tea and a single dose of oxycodone

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the potential for kratom to precipitate a pharmacokinetic interaction with the common opioid and dual cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A/CYP2D6 substrate oxycodone. A secondary objective is to evaluate a potential pharmacodynamic interaction by measuring pupil diameter, the most sensitive measure of central nervous system opioid effects. To evaluate these objectives, participants will complete four arms, during which they will be administered the following:

• Arm 1: a single low dose of kratom (by mouth, as a tea)
• Arm 2: a single low dose of immediate-release oxycodone (by mouth, as a tablet)
• Arm 3: a single low dose of kratom tea and a single low dose of oxycodone
• Arm 4: daily at-home self-administration of kratom tea for four days, followed immediately by a single low dose of kratom tea and a single low dose of oxycodone in the research setting

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and females, aged from 21-45 years and healthy
• Body weight between 130 and 250 pounds (60-115 kg) and body mass index between 19 and 30
• Not taking any medications (prescription and non-prescription) or dietary supplements/botanical products known to alter the pharmacokinetics of either oxycodone or kratom
• Willing to abstain from consuming dietary supplements/botanical products and fruit juices for several weeks
• Willing to abstain from cannabis/marijuana, hemp, and THC- and/or CBD-containing products for several weeks
• Willing to abstain from consuming caffeinated beverages or other caffeine-containing products the evening before and morning of any inpatient visit
• Willing to abstain from consuming alcoholic beverages for one day prior to any inpatient visit
• Willing to use an additional method of contraception that does not include oral contraceptive pills, patches, or other hormonal methods (such as abstinence, copper IUD, or condoms)
• Have consumed kratom previously and tolerated it well without any unpleasant effects
• Willing to abstain from kratom for several weeks
• Have consumed any opioid previously and tolerated it well without any unpleasant effects or addiction
• Written informed consent (and assent when applicable) obtained from subject or subject's legal representative and ability for the subject to comply with the requirements of the study
• Geographically located within a 40-mile radius of Spokane and have the time to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• Males and females under the age of 21 or over the age of 45
• People who weigh less than 130 pounds or more than 250 pounds
• People with a body mass index less than 19 or greater than 30
• Any current major illness or chronic illness including but not limited to kidney disease, hepatic disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, or HIV/AIDS
• No previous exposure to kratom
• No previous exposure to an opioid
• History of anemia or any other significant hematologic disorder
• History of substance abuse, dependence, or addiction or major psychiatric illness
• A need for chronic opioid analgesics
• Use of opioid analgesics 3 weeks prior to initiation of the study
• An imminent likely need for opioid analgesics (e.g., planned dental or surgical procedure)
• Pregnant or nursing
• History of allergy or intolerance to kratom, other opioids, or oxycodone
• Taking concomitant medications, both prescription and non-prescription (including dietary supplements/botanical products), known to alter the pharmacokinetics of kratom or oxycodone
• Presence of a condition or abnormality that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data
• History of sleep apnea
• Any prior use of amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, MDMA, opioids, PCP, or other drugs for recreational purposes
• Use of cannabis/marijuana, hemp, THC-containing products, CBD-containing products, or CBD within the last month
• Out-of-range clinical laboratory value that the study physician considers participation in the study a health risk
• Inability to speak, read, and understand English