Nabilone for Cannabis Dependence: A Pilot Study (NAB CAN)

Mass General Brigham

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 3

Phase 2

Conditions

Cannabis Dependence

Marijuana Dependence

Treatments

Drug: Nabilone

Drug: Placebo

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT01347762

1K99DA029115-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

2010-P-000096

Details and patient eligibility

About

Cannabis use disorders are an important public health problem in the United States, but there are no effective medications available to treat these disorders. The investigators intend to test a medication with interesting properties, nabilone, as a treatment for cannabis dependence and to study the relationship of this treatment with the brain using functional MRI brain scans. Nabilone and marijuana have similar effects upon behaviors and the human body, suggesting that nabilone may decrease cannabis withdrawal symptoms while allowing treatment-seeking patients to benefit from behavioral treatments when they are trying to stop using cannabis. The investigators propose to assess the relationship of nabilone, when added to behavioral treatment, on cannabis use patterns in cannabis-dependent patients. The investigators also aim to determine the effects of nabilone on performance on neuropsychological tests and to assess the correlation of neuropsychological performance to brain changes using functional MRI brain scans. The investigators hypothesize that patients receiving nabilone will reduce their use of cannabis more than patients receiving placebo during this 10-week treatment trial.

Full description

Cannabis use disorders are an important public health problem in the United States, but no effective pharmacotherapies are available to treat these disorders. The investigators intend to test a novel agonist pharmacotherapy, nabilone, for cannabis dependence and to study the relationship of this treatment with the brain using BOLD fMRI measures. The behavioral and physiological effects of nabilone and Δ9-THC overlap, suggesting that nabilone may ameliorate cannabis withdrawal symptoms while allowing treatment-seeking outpatients to benefit from medical management (MM) sessions when they are trying to stop using cannabis. The investigators propose to assess the relationship of nabilone, when added to MM, on cannabis use patterns in cannabis-dependent patients. The investigators also aim to determine the effects of nabilone on performance on neuropsychological tests and to assess the correlation of neuropsychological performance to brain changes using BOLD fMRI measures.

In this pilot study, subjects will receive either nabilone or placebo in addition to medical management (MM) over a 10-week treatment period. Subjects' responses to neuropsychological testing carried out while the subject is receiving fMRI scans at 3 time points: at baseline, 4 weeks, and 10 weeks. Following treatment completion, subjects will have a follow-up visit at 14 weeks. This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility of nabilone treatment for cannabis dependence and will establish effect sizes for a larger trial in which subjects will receive high-dose nabilone, low-dose nabilone, or placebo in addition to MM.

Enrollment

84 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 45 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Age range 18-45 years
DSM-IV diagnosis of cannabis dependence, based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)
express a desire to quit cannabis use within the next 30 days
have used cannabis on more than4 days within the past 30 days
for women of childbearing age, a negative pregnancy test at screening with agreement to use adequate contraception to prevent pregnancy and monthly pregnancy tests
consent for us to communicate with their prescribing clinician
furnish the names of 2 locators, who would assist study staff in locating them during the study period
live close enough to McLean Hospital to attend study visits
plan to stay in the Boston area for the next 3 months
are willing and able to sign informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

current diagnosis of other drug or alcohol dependence (excluding nicotine)
recent (within 3 months) significant cardiac disease
current serious psychiatric illness or history of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar type I disorder
current medical condition (including significant laboratory abnormalities, such as liver function tests >5 times the upper limit of normal range) that could prevent regular study attendance
mental retardation or organic mental disorder
acutely dangerous or suicidal behavior
currently in a residential treatment setting in which substance use is monitored and restricted, since the restricted access to drugs could represent an important confounding variable
pregnant, nursing, or, if a woman of childbearing potential, not using a form of birth control judged by the investigator to be effective
concomitant daily treatment with opioid analgesics, sedative hypnotics, or other known CNS depressants
known hypersensitivity to cannabinoids or sesame oil
disease of the gastrointestinal system, liver, or kidneys that may impede metabolism or excretion of nabilone
inability to read or write in English. The potential hazards of a Schedule II medication like nabilone underscore the importance of English proficiency in this medication trial.
unwilling or unable to participate in MRI scanning (e.g., those having pacemakers, bone plates, screws, etc.; claustrophobia)
a history of seizures, head trauma or other history of CNS insult that could predispose the subject to seizures .