---
title: Exploration of Gemfibrozil as a Treatment for AUD
nct_id: NCT03539432
overall_status: TERMINATED
phase: PHASE2
sponsor: The Mind Research Network
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
primary_condition: Alcohol Use Disorder
countries: United States
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03539432.md"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03539432"
ct_last_update_post_date: 2021-10-29
last_seen_at: "2026-05-12T06:37:06.685Z"
source: ClinicalTrials.gov (mirrored, no enrichment)
---
# Exploration of Gemfibrozil as a Treatment for AUD

**Official Title:** Exploration of Gemfibrozil as a Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

**NCT ID:** [NCT03539432](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03539432)

## Key Facts

- **Status:** TERMINATED
- **Why Stopped:** Funds for the study expired
- **Phase:** PHASE2
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Target Enrollment:** 3
- **Lead Sponsor:** The Mind Research Network
- **Conditions:** Alcohol Use Disorder
- **Start Date:** 2018-05-16
- **Completion Date:** 2018-12-30
- **CT.gov Last Update:** 2021-10-29

## Brief Summary

This study will examine the efficacy of the medication gemfibrozil in reducing alcohol consumption in individuals with an alcohol use disorder who are seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems. Twenty individuals will be randomized to receive four weeks of either gemfibrozil or placebo and retrospective reports of alcohol use will be collected throughout the trial. In addition, brain imaging measures will be collected at baseline and after two weeks of treatment to determine the effects of gemfibrozil on brain functioning.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 60 Years
- **Sex:** ALL
- **Healthy Volunteers:** No

```
Inclusion Criteria:

1. males and females age 18-60 meeting DSM-V criteria for moderate or severe AUD in the past year
2. interested in cutting down or quitting drinking
3. able to provide voluntary informed consent
4. have at least 4 heavy drinking days (≥ 5 drinks per day for men, and 4 for women) in the past 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

1. severe liver disease; severe kidney disease; gallbladder disease or gallstones
2. chronic renal or hepatic failure
3. recent pancreatitis
4. insulin-dependent diabetes
5. other urgent medical problems
6. moderately elevated liver function tests (AST or ALT greater than 2 times upper limit of normal) or elevated creatine kinase (CK)
7. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, Bipolar I disorder, suicidal thoughts in the last month
8. current moderate or severe other substance use disorder (SUD; except nicotine or marijuana)
9. active legal problems with the potential to result in incarceration
10. pregnancy or lactation, or child bearing age and not on birth control or not willing to use other birth control methods (e.g. condoms)
11. current daily use of anti-craving medications, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, or anti-psychotics
12. regularly taking a medication contraindicated for use with gemfibrozil including other fibrates, statins, repaglinide, or which are believed to interact with gemfibrozil such as dasabuvir, dabrafenib, loperamide, montelukast, paclitaxel, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, colestipol, colchicine and warfarin41,68
13. a history of alcohol withdrawal-induced seizures or delirium tremens (hallucinations, disorientation) requiring hospital admission during the last ten years
14. a history of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI; loss of consciousness \>30 minutes69)
15. left-handedness
16. any contraindications for MRI
```

## Arms

- **Gemfibrozil** (EXPERIMENTAL) — Gemfibrozil 600 mg by mouth twice daily
- **Placebo** (PLACEBO_COMPARATOR) — Microcrystalline cellulose powder packaged in capsules identical to the experimental condition

## Interventions

- **Gemfibrozil 600 MG** (DRUG) — Gemfibrozil capsules (600 mg) taken twice per day
- **Placebo oral capsule** (DRUG) — Microcrystalline cellulose powder packaged in capsules identical to the experimental medication

## Primary Outcomes

- **Mean Standard Drinks Per Drinking Day** _(time frame: Baseline)_ — Average number of standard drinks consumed on drinking days
- **Mean Standard Drinks Per Drinking Day** _(time frame: 2 weeks post baseline)_ — Average number of standard drinks consumed on drinking days
- **Mean Standard Drinks Per Drinking Day** _(time frame: 4 weeks post baseline)_ — Average number of standard drinks consumed on drinking days
- **Percent Days Abstinent** _(time frame: Baseline)_ — Percentage of days of abstinence from alcohol
- **Percent Days Abstinent** _(time frame: 2 weeks post baseline)_ — Percentage of days of abstinence from alcohol
- **Percent Days Abstinent** _(time frame: 4 weeks post baseline)_ — Percentage of days of abstinence from alcohol

## Locations (1)

- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

## Recent Field Changes (last 30 days)

- `status.overallStatus` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.whyStopped` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.primaryCompletionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.completionDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `status.lastUpdatePostDate` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.phases` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `design.enrollmentCount` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.criteria` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.minAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.maxAge` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `eligibility.sex` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `outcomes.primary` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.arms` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `armsInterventions.interventions` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `sponsor.lead` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `results.hasResults` — added _(2026-05-12)_
- `locations.the mind research network|albuquerque|new mexico|united states` — added _(2026-05-12)_

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/agent/trials/NCT03539432.md*  
*Source data (authoritative): https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03539432*  
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