ISRCTN ISRCTN38687869
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN38687869
EudraCT/CTIS number 2012-004183-21
Secondary identifying numbers 13586
Submission date
04/04/2013
Registration date
04/04/2013
Last edited
08/08/2018
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Urological and Genital Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Nocturia is a condition that means getting up at night one or more times to pass urine. The bladder is controlled via the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Therefore, many neurological conditions can also have an effect on bladder function. This can occur in multiple sclerosis, and this can lead to symptoms of frequent urination as well as nocturia. It is a common condition in both men and women and this can have a significant impact on quality of sleep and quality of life. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of melatonin on nocturia in adults with progressive multiple sclerosis. In multiple sclerosis urinary symptoms are common, including nocturia. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone in humans which regulates the normal circadian cycles (the natural pattern of physical and behavioral processes) in each 24-hour period. Melatonin seems to help sleep and control the timing of the sleep period. It is possible that nocturia may be a sign of impaired circadian regulation. In this instance, taking melatonin as a sustained-release tablet may improve nocturia, sleep quality and quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 to 80 with multiple sclerosis and nocturia

What does the study involve?
Participants are asked to attend the clinic for a screening visit (Visit 1) to see if they are suitable to take part in the study. If they are suitable to take part they come back for regular visits to check their progress in the study. It is a crossover study, which means that participants are randomly allocated to receive either melatonin or placebo (dummy drug) in the first treatment period, and in the second treatment period they receive the opposite of they were given (either melatonin or placebo) in the first treatment period. The two treatment periods last 6 weeks each and are separated by a break of 1 month. The number of nocturia episodes per night are measured at the start of the study and at the end of each treatment period. After the second treatment period, participants can continue to take melatonin for 1 year. Participants are interviewed to assess the impact of nocturia on their quality of life.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Melatonin may reduce how often people with multiple sclerosis have to pass urine during the night, and therefore may reduce urinary symptoms and fatigue, and improve overall quality of life. Melatonin appears to cause very few side effects in the short term, up to 3 months, when healthy people take it at low doses like the dose used in this study. Unwanted effects in some people, especially at high doses, may include: headaches, nausea, next-day grogginess or irritability, hormone fluctuations, vivid dreams or nightmares, reduced blood flow, and hypothermia. While no large, long-term studies that might reveal side-effects have been conducted, there are reports about patients having taken melatonin for months without problems. Melatonin can cause somnolence (drowsiness), therefore, caution should be shown when driving, operating machinery, or drinking alcohol.

Where is the study run from?
Bristol Urological Institute (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2013 to July 2017

Who is funding the study?
Multiple Sclerosis Society (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Marcus Drake
Marcus.Drake@bui.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof Marcus Drake
Scientific

University of Bristol and Bristol Urological Institute
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)117 414 7942
Email Marcus.Drake@bui.ac.uk

Study information

Study designDouble-blind randomised placebo controlled crossover clinical trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Home
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover trial of melatonin for treatment of nocturia in adults with multiple sclerosis
Study hypothesisThe aim of this study is to assess the effect of melatonin in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
Ethics approval(s)National southwest research ethics committee Exeter, 26/02/2014, ref: 12/SW/0322
ConditionTopic: Renal and Urogenital, Nocturia in adults with multiple sclerosis
InterventionSustained-release melatonin (‘Circadin’ 2mg taken at bedtime) versus placebo in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

A run-in phase will be followed by two treatment phases (active drug or placebo) of 6 weeks each separated by a washout interval of 1 month. After the second treatment phase, patients will be entitled to participate in an open label, single-arm extension study of duration one year. Qualitative interviews will be undertaken with participants to assess the impact of nocturia on their quality of life.
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Applicable
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Melatonin
Primary outcome measureAdded 10/03/2017:
Nocturia episodes per night, measured from a frequency volume chart (FVC) at baseline and at the end of each treatment phase
Secondary outcome measuresAdded 10/03/2017:
1. Quality of life, measured with the MS Quality of Life Index (MSQLI), at baseline and at the end of each treatment phase
2. MS disease severity, measured with the MS-specific Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), at baseline and at the end of each treatment phase
3. Urinary tract symptoms, measured with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires (ICIQ) at baseline and at the end of each treatment phase. ICIQ-MLUTS and ICIQ-FLUTS are gender specific tools for assessing severity and bother of all LUTS
4. Volumes passed when urinating, measured from the FVC at baseline and at the end of each treatment phase
5. Sleep quality, measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline and at the end of each treatment phase
Overall study start date25/03/2013
Overall study end date08/07/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit80 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsUK Sample Size: 50
Participant inclusion criteria1. Male and female over 18 years old, upper age limit 80 years
2. Confirmed neurological diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
3. At least 1 episode of nocturia (as defined by International Continence Society criteria [6]) every night.
4. Female subjects of childbearing potential; willing to use an effective method of contraception throughout the study.
Participant exclusion criteria1. Under 18 years old
2. Pregnant patients
3. Symptomatic urinary infection
4. Indwelling urinary catheter
5. Use of desmopressin or investigational medical compounds in the month preceding randomisation
6. Antimuscarinic or diuretic medication, unless used longterm prior to study (at least 3 months) and continued at same dosing regime throughout the study
7. Use of melatonin on prescription, or purchased over the counter/online
8. Use of “sleeping tablets” on prescription, or purchased overt he counter/ online
9. Diabetes mellitus
10. Diabetes insipidus
11. Unwilling to give informed consent
12. Female subjects of childbearing potential; unwilling to use an effective method of contraception throughout the study
Recruitment start date25/03/2013
Recruitment end date01/04/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Bristol Urological Institute
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

North Bristol NHS Trust (UK)
Hospital/treatment centre

Trust Headquarters
Beckspool Road
Frenchay
Bristol
B16 1JE
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www.nbt.nhs.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/036x6gt55

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Multiple Sclerosis Society (of Great Britain & Northern Ireland) (UK) Grant Codes: 959/11
Private sector organisation / Associations and societies (private and public)
Alternative name(s)
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The MS Society, MS Society UK, Multiple Sclerosis Society UK, MS Society
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 27/03/2017 Yes No
Results article results 06/08/2018 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

08/08/2018: Publication reference added.
30/03/2017: Publication reference added.
10/03/2017: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 25/03/2015 to 01/04/2017.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 25/03/2015 to 08/07/2017.