D-Cycloserine for Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: Results from a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective: Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a leading cause of global disability, with current treatments offering limited and inconsistent relief. D-cycloserine (DCS), a partial NMDA receptor agonist and FDA-approved antimicrobial, has shown promise in preclinical models for reducing neuropathic pain and its negative emotional impact. Building on these findings and a positive pilot study, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DCS in adults with cLBP. Methods: Participants with cLBP (n=203) were randomized to receive 200 mg DCS or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week placebo phase. The primary outcome was pain intensity (numeric rating scale, NRS) at 12 weeks; secondary outcomes included pain intensity at 24 weeks, safety, and patient-reported psychological measures. Results: DCS had negligible effects on pain compared to placebo at both 12 weeks (adjusted effect: −0.07/10 NRS units, 95% CI: (−0.67, 0.53), p = 0.78) and at 24 weeks (adjusted effect: −0.22/10 NRS units, 95% CI: (−0.84, 0.40), p = 0.39). Adverse events were similar between groups. Exploratory outcomes also showed no significant effects. Conclusion: Our results indicate that 12 weeks of DCS 400 mg/day does not provide clinically meaningful analgesia in cLBP, though it is well tolerated. These findings highlight the challenges of translating preclinical neuropathic pain results to heterogeneous clinical pain populations.