Stanford, CANCT06027099Now EnrollingIRB Ready

Chronic Pain Clinical Trial in Stanford, CA

Access cutting-edge chronic pain treatment through this phase 3 clinical trial at a research site in Stanford. Study-provided care at no cost to qualified participants.

Sponsored by Stanford University

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Expert Care in Stanford

Access chronic pain specialists at no cost

IRB Approved

This study follows strict safety protocols and ethical guidelines

No-Cost Care

All study-related chronic pain treatment provided free

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Why Participate?

  • No-Cost Study Care

  • Local to Stanford

    Convenient for CA residents

  • Cutting-Edge Treatment

    Access to innovative therapies

  • Expert Medical Care

    Close monitoring by specialists

  • Possible Compensation*

    For time and travel

*Compensation varies by study. Confirm details with coordinator.

Simple Process

  1. 1Submit this form
  2. 2Phone screening
  3. 3Visit Stanford site if eligible
  4. 4Begin participation

About This Chronic Pain Study in Stanford

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a combined behavioral and pharmacologic intervention can help reduce opioid use, improve pain recovery, and prevent opioid misuse after surgery in adults undergoing elective surgery. The study includes adults aged 18 to 75 who have a history of long-term opioid use, defined as having access to opioids for 60 or more days within the 180 days before surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does Motivational Interviewing with guided opioid tapering plus tizanidine (MI-Opioid Taper + Tizanidine) help participants return to their preoperative opioid use level or stop opioids faster than Enhanced Usual Care (EUC)? * Does the intervention reduce the time to pain resolution and decrease the likelihood of opioid misuse after surgery compared to EUC? Researchers will compare MI-Opioid Taper + Tizanidine to MI-Opioid Taper with placebo and to EUC to see whether the intervention improves postoperative opioid and pain outcomes. Participants will: * Complete a phone assessment and baseline survey before surgery * Be randomly assigned 7-13 days after surgery to one of three groups: * MI-Opioid Taper + tizanidine (MTT) * MI-Opioid Taper + placebo (MTP) * Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) * Complete brief weekly phone or video visits with a study clinician for 6 weeks starting 14 days after surgery * Take a study medication (tizanidine or placebo) three times daily for 5 weeks (MTT and MTP groups only) * Complete weekly online surveys for 6 months, followed by monthly surveys until 12 months after surgery to track pain, opioid use, and related outcomes

Sponsor: Stanford University

Who Can Participate

Inclusion Criteria

18 to 75 years of age
Able to speak, write, and read fluently in English
Scheduled for elective surgery at
Stanford University Medical Center,
Brigham and Women's Hospital (Harvard University),
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (Wake Forest University), or
University of Kansas Medical Center
Preoperative long-term opioid use (Defined as ≥ 60-day supply of opioids in the 180-day period prior to surgery), identified via self-report, state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), or Electronic Medical Records (EHR). Days may be nonconsecutive, and actual use of opioid supply is not required.
Willing and able to complete online assessments and study calls independently
On the preoperative Baseline assessments, least one of the following:
Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM-17): score ≥ 9
Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use (TAPS-1): Reported use more frequent than "Never" on any item except Tobacco; for Tobacco, "Yes" to at least one item on the TAPS-2 for Tobacco
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C): score ≥4 (men), ≥3 (women)
Modified Brief Pain Inventory (mBPI): "Yes" to at least one of the following:
Over the past 24 hours have you needed to take your pain medication to help you sleep?
Have you taken any pain medications for any reason other than your pain, such as to reduce anxiety or improve mood?
Have you taken more pain medication than was prescribed to you in the past 24 hours?
At the Post-Operative Call (7-13 days post-op): Postoperative daily opioid dose ≥ preoperative daily opioid dose (identified during the Pre-Surgery Call 5-1 day before surgery), measured in Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME).

Exclusion Criteria

Infection, tumor, or fracture at the operative site
Allergy or intolerance to tizanidine
Current use of tizanidine
Renal impairment (Creatinine Clearance \[CrCl\] \< 25 ml/min)
Hepatic impairment, including cirrhosis or elevated liver enzymes
Concurrent use of other α2-adrenergic agonists, skeletal muscle relaxants
Concurrent use of: fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin,zileuton, fluoroquinolones, antiarrhythmics (amiodarone, mexiletine, propafenone, verapamil), cimetidine, famotidine, oral contraceptive pills, acyclovir, ticlopidine, and fexinidazole
Pre-existing hypotension, sedation, dizziness, severe respiratory insufficiency.
Opioid Use Disorder
Suicidality as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Question 9 score ≥ 1
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or planning to conceive
Planned cancer treatment in the \< 3 months following surgery
Conditions causing inability to complete assessments (education, cognitive ability, mental status, medical status)
Participating in another clinical trial with an active treatment arm

Not sure if you qualify? Submit your interest and a study coordinator will help determine your eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Is this study available in Stanford?

Yes, this clinical trial (NCT06027099) has an active research site in Stanford, CA that is currently enrolling participants.

Q:Is it safe to participate?

Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. This study has been reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals. You can withdraw at any time.

Q:Will I be compensated?

Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time and travel expenses. Specific compensation details will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is provided at no cost.

Q:Can I leave the trial if I change my mind?

Absolutely. Participation is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty.

Still have questions? Our study coordinators are here to help.

Chronic Pain Treatment Options in Stanford, CA

If you're searching for chronic pain treatment options in Stanford, CA, this clinical trial (NCT06027099) may be an excellent opportunity. Clinical trials provide access to cutting-edge treatments that aren't yet available to the general public, often at no cost to participants.

Our Stanford research site is actively enrolling participants for this phase 3 clinical trial. You'll receive care from experienced chronic pain specialists who are at the forefront of medical research. All study-related care, including examinations, treatments, and monitoring, is provided at no cost to qualified participants.

Looking for more options? Browse all chronic pain clinical trials near you to find additional studies recruiting in your area.

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