title: Long-term efficacy and safety of dronabinol for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated anorexia.
abstract: We studied the effects of long-term (12 months) dronabinol in 94 late-stage acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (mean CD4 count of 45/mm3) who previously participated in a 6-week study (placebo versus dronabinol). All patients received dronabinol orally-2.5 mg twice daily (90%) or 2.5 mg once daily (10%). Appetite was measured using a visual analogue scale for hunger (VASH). Dronabinol was associated with consistent improvement in mean appetite. Patients previously treated with dronabinol continued to show improvement in VASH (percent change from baseline of 6-week trial: 48.6-76.1% at each month), whereas those previously treated with placebo exhibited substantial improvement in mean appetite, particularly during the initial 4 months of treatment (48.5-69.9%). Thereafter, dronabinol was associated with a VASH change at least twice baseline. Patients tended toward stable body weight for at least 7 months. Adverse events were primarily related to known central nervous system effects of dronabinol. These data support long-term, safe use of dronabinol for anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS.
authors.affiliation: St. John's Hospital, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lefkowitz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laubenstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bellman
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yangco
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Powderly
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Plasse
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Mosdell
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Shepard
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000855:Anorexia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D019167:Appetite Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D019167:Appetite Stimulants; D013759:Dronabinol