The Effect of Prescription Medications in Marijuana Users

Johns Hopkins University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Marijuana Abuse

Treatments: Drug: Dronabinol 60mg/day; Drug: Dronabinol 30mg/day; Drug: Dronabinol 120mg/day; Drug: Placebo

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00893074

NA_00026278

R01DA025044 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

A subset of heavy marijuana users have trouble quitting marijuana use and the number of those seeking treatment for problems related to marijuana is increasing. The purpose of this research study is to investigate whether dronabinol can reduce withdrawal effects associated with stopping marijuana use, if dronabinol can reduce the rewarding effects of smoked marijuana, and whether there are any cognitive performance deficits associated with dronabinol doses that produce such effects.

Enrollment: 24 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• current use of marijuana
• able to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• dependence on drug other than marijuana
• pregnant, breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant within the next 3 months
• currently seeking treatment for cannabis-related problems or otherwise trying to reduce use
• use of cannabis under the guidance of a physician for a medical disorder
• unstable or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension, angina)
• allergy to study medication

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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24 participants in 1 patient group

0, 30, 60, and 120mg dronabinol

Other group

Description:

0, 30, 60, and 120mf dronabinol was administered in a randomized within-subjects crossover study to compare the medication dose effects of cannabis withdrawal, cognitive performance, and response to acute cannabis dosing

Treatment:

Drug: Dronabinol 120mg/day

Drug: Placebo

Drug: Dronabinol 30mg/day

Drug: Dronabinol 60mg/day