Cannabidiol for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Clalit Health Services

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Ulcerative Colitis; Crohn's Disease

Treatments: Drug: cannabidiol; Drug: placebo in drops

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01037322

canabidiol1

Details and patient eligibility

About

There are many anecdotal reports about improvement of Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with cannabis smoking. The most effective anti inflammatory compound known today is cannabidiol. cannabidiol can be extracted from the cannabis plant, it has no central effect and is fat soluble so it can be given as drops in oil. Doses of up to 500mg did not cause any side effects.

The aim of the proposed study is to examine in a double blind placebo controlled fashion the effect of cannabidiol on disease activity in patients with IBD.

Full description

Background: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are relatively common disease with a rising incidence. Treatment includes various immunocompromising agents including corticosteroids, immunomodulators and biologic agents. Current treatment is not always effective and has many side effect.

Cannabinoids have been known to have anti inflammatory effect, probably via the CB2 receptor. There are many anecdotal reports of cannabinoids in inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, and the impression is that cannabinoids do have an ameliorating effect on IBD and that side effects are negligible. However, there are no placebo controled trials in human subjects.

The cannabis plant contains about 600 ingredients, and it is not known which are the active ingredients affecting IBD. The most effective anti inflammatory compound known today is cannabidiol. Cannabidiol can be extracted from the cannabis plant, it has no central effect and is fat soluble so it can be given as drops in oil. Doses of up to 500mg did not cause any side effects.

The aim of the proposed study is to examine in a double blind placebo controlled fashion the effect of cannabidiol on disease activity in patients with IBD.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients with a diagnosis IBD at least 3 months before recruitment will be eligible to the study.
2. Patients with active disease who are resistant to either 5 ASA, steroids or immunomodulators, or who can not receive those drugs due to adverse reactions will be offered the possibility of receiving cannabidiol at a dose of 10 mg in sub lingual drops or drops of olive oil as placebo.
3. Disease activity index of either CDAI of more then 200 in Crohn's disease or Mayo score above 3 in UC.
4. Age above 20.

Exclusion criteria

1. Patients with a known mental disorder
2. Patients who are deemed to be at a high risk of abuse or addiction to the study drug.
3. Pregnant women
4. Patients who are sensitive to any of the ingredients of the study medication.
5. Patients who are unable to give informed consent.
6. Patients who may need surgery in the near future.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

cannabidiol in drops

Active Comparator group

Description:

cannabidiol given in drops of olive oil sub lingual 5 mg twice daily

Treatment:

Drug: cannabidiol

placebo in drops

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

olive oil given in drops sub lingual

Treatment:

Drug: placebo in drops