Samantha Colledge-Frisby

Adjunct Lecturer

For further information about what the trial involves, and participation, please click here.

Project Collaborators External

Professor Gregory Dore, Kirby Institute UNSW
Professor Steven Shoptaw, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Associate Professor Peter Kelly, University of Wollongong
Dr Alyna Turner, Deakin University
Dr Philip Clare, University of Sydney
Dr Shalini Arunogiri, Monash University
Professor Michael Berk, Deakin University
Associate Professor Olivia Dean, Deakin University
Dr Barbara Sinclair, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
David Reid, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
Dr Jeremy Hayllar, Metro North Hospital and Health Service
Dr David Goodman, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Dr Michael Christmass, Mental Health Commission, WA
Juanita Koeijers, National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum

Project Supporters

National Health and Medical Research Council (MRFF Efficient Use of existing medicines). Grant No. 2007155

There are currently no approved pharmacotherapies that can be delivered as scalable and cost-effective treatment options for methamphetamine dependence. Mirtazapine has recently been identified as a promising medication based on two Phase II clinical trials. Mirtazapine is currently an approved generic antidepressant medication that can be delivered as a prescribed take-home medication, making it a potentially scalable and cost-effective treatment option.

To assess the effectiveness, safety, tolerability of mirtazapine for methamphetamine dependence in routine clinical care.

Design and Method

A Phase III double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial (N = 340). Participants will be assigned to receive either 12 weeks of mirtazapine or an equivalent placebo. The trial recruited participants through six sites in Geelong, Wollongong, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Townsville.