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Dementia patients and people with Parkinson’s disease are being asked to take part in a national study to investigate whether an anti-sickness drug could be used to treat hallucinations.
Ondansetron is a commonly used drug used to prevent nausea and vomiting in cancer patients, but preliminary research also suggests it can be used to treat hallucinations.
The Trial of Ondansetron as a Parkinson’s Hallucinations Treatment (TOP HAT) study will investigate this further, using patients based in England, Wales and Scotland.
Hallucinations affect 75% of people with Lewy body dementia and Parkinson’s disease
Chief investigator Professor Suzanne Reeves (UCL Psychiatry) says that currently, drug treatment options for visual hallucinations in people with Lewy body dementia (a type of progressive dementia) and Parkinson’s disease are limited, and some medication can cause significant side effects.
Since hallucinations affect around three quarters (75%) of these patients, Prof Reeves says it is vital that treatment options are identified.
€œIt is really important that we identify and test alternative treatments, and given that ondansetron is already used in the NHS, it’s possible we could have an effective treatment available in a fraction of the usual time,€ she said.
Dr Beckie Port, Head of Research at Parkinson’s UK, added: €œWhile most people will be familiar with the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, like tremor and slowness, non-motor symptoms like pain, sleep problems and hallucinations are very common.
€œHallucinations can have a huge impact on quality of life and can be incredibly distressing for the individual and their loved ones, so this research is a really positive step forward to finding more effective treatments.€
The study aims to recruit a further 200 participants
The TOP HAT study is currently operating across 30 sites in England, Scotland and Wales. New sites are due to open soon to accommodate approximately 200 new study volunteers.
Participants will be randomly allocated ondansetron, the study drug, or the placebo, to take for 12 weeks. They will then be followed up for a further 12 weeks to monitor any changes.
The medication will be delivered directly to the participant’s door along with clear instructions on how to take it. The study will be double-blind, so neither the researchers nor the participants will know whether they have the study drug or the placebo.
During the study, people will be asked to complete a range of assessments, including questions about hallucinations and any other symptoms they are experiencing, and how they impact on quality of life.
Everyone with a Parkinson’s or Lewy body dementia diagnosis who is experiencing visual hallucinations is welcome to register their interest. Recruitment closes on 30th June 2023. To find out if you are eligible, click here.