NCT07913542Not yet recruitingPhase 2
N-Acetylcysteine for Bipolar and Alcohol Use Disorders
N-acetylcysteine for Restoring Glutamate/Glutathione Homeostasis and Reducing Heavy Drinking in Co-occurring Bipolar and Alcohol Use Disorders
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 3 Nov 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
This study will evaluate N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in adults with bipolar disorder and alcohol use disorder. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive NAC or matched placebo for 28 days. The study includes five visits and three MRI brain imaging scans. Questionnaires, clinical interviews, alcohol and drug assessments, laboratory testing, and monitoring for possible side effects will be completed during study visits.
- Status (registry)
- Not yet recruiting
- Phase (registry)
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 70 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 27 Oct 2026
- Start date
- 1 Jan 2027
- Primary completion date
- 31 Aug 2031
- Lead sponsor
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Diseases
- Bipolar disorder
- NCT number
- NCT07913542
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional · Phase 2
- Planned participants: 70
- From 1 Jan 2027 to the primary completion date, 31 Aug 2031
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Concomitant use of nitroglycerin, carbamazepine, or another medication deemed hazardous with NAC.
- Concomitant use of specified alcohol-use-disorder medications or medications that could interfere with glutamate transmission.
- Electroconvulsive therapy in the past 3 months.
- Medication dose change of 20% or greater within 2 weeks before testing.
- NAC use in the last month or prior adverse effects from NAC.
- Significant claustrophobia or prior negative experience with MRI.
Other illness
- Primary psychiatric diagnosis other than bipolar disorder.
- Uncontrolled neurological condition that could confound study results.
- History of brain injury with loss of consciousness greater than 5 minutes.
- History of intellectual disability or dementia.
- Uncontrolled medical condition that may adversely affect study conduct or participant safety.
- Hepatocellular disease as defined in the protocol.
- Renal insufficiency as defined in the protocol.
- Has an allergy to riboflavin
Other
- Pregnancy, lactation, or refusal to use adequate contraception when applicable.
- Current suicidal or homicidal risk.
- Baseline MADRS score greater than 35 or YMRS score greater than 25.
- Clinically significant alcohol withdrawal symptoms or autonomic instability.
- Non-MRI-safe material in the body.
Who the study is looking for
- Age 18 to 60 years.
- Meet DSM-5 criteria for bipolar I or bipolar II disorder.
- Prescribed daily use of at least one FDA-approved mood-stabilizing medication (lithium, divalproex sodium, lamotrigine, or a second-generation antipsychotic).
- Meet DSM-5 criteria for current, within the past 90 days, moderate to severe alcohol use disorder.
- Active alcohol use in the past 14 days, with heavy drinking days on at least 50% of drinking days in the past 30 days.
- Able to provide informed consent and read, understand, and accurately complete assessment instruments.
- Willing to commit to medication treatment and follow-up assessments.
- Willing to abstain from antioxidant supplements for the duration of the study.
Age in the registry: 18 years to 60 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical University of South Carolina Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Charleston | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.