title: Nabiximols as an agonist replacement therapy during cannabis withdrawal: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are no medications approved for treating cannabis dependence or withdrawal. The cannabis extract nabiximols (Sativex), developed as a multiple sclerosis treatment, offers a potential agonist medication for cannabis withdrawal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of nabiximols in treating cannabis withdrawal.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-site, double-blind randomized clinical inpatient trial with a 28-day follow-up was conducted in New South Wales, Australia. Participants included 51 DSM-IV-TR cannabis-dependent treatment seekers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6-day regimen of nabiximols (maximum daily dose, 86.4 mg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 80 mg of cannabidiol) or placebo with standardized psychosocial interventions during a 9-day admission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Severity of cannabis withdrawal and cravings (Cannabis Withdrawal Scale), retention in withdrawal treatment, and adverse events. Secondary outcomes include postwithdrawal cannabis use, health outcomes, and psychosocial outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nabiximols treatment significantly reduced the overall severity of cannabis withdrawal relative to placebo (F8,377.97 = 2.39; P = .01), including effects on withdrawal-related irritability, depression, and cannabis cravings. Nabiximols had a more limited, but still positive, therapeutic benefit on sleep disturbance, anxiety, appetite loss, physical symptoms, and restlessness. Nabiximols patients remained in treatment longer during medication use (unadjusted hazard ratio, 3.66 [95% CI, 1.18-11.37]; P = .02), with 2.84 the number needed to treat to achieve successful retention in treatment. Participants could not reliably differentiate between nabiximols and placebo treatment (χ21 = 0.79; P = .67), and those receiving nabiximols did not report greater intoxication (F1,6 = 0.22; P = .97). The number (F1,50 = 0.3; P = .59) and severity (F1,50 = 2.69; P = .10) of adverse events did not differ significantly between groups. Both groups showed reduced cannabis use at follow-up, with no advantage of nabiximols over placebo for self-reported cannabis use (F1,48 = 0.29; P = .75), cannabis-related problems (F1,49 = 2.33; P = .14), or cannabis dependence (F1,50 < 0.01; P = .89).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a treatment-seeking cohort, nabiximols attenuated cannabis withdrawal symptoms and improved patient retention in treatment. However, placebo was as effective as nabiximols in promoting long-term reductions in cannabis use following medication cessation. The data support further evaluation of nabiximols for management of cannabis dependence and withdrawal in treatment-seeking populations.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12611000398909.
authors.affiliation: National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia2now with the School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Allsop
authors.affiliation: National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District New South Wales Ministry of Health, Sydney, Australia4Addiction Medicine, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lintzeris
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New South Wales Ministry of Health, Newcastle, Australia6School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Adrian J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dunlop
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District New South Wales Ministry of Health, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montebello
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New South Wales Ministry of Health, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Services, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District New South Wales Ministry of Health, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Gonzalo R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New South Wales Ministry of Health, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Rohan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.affiliation: Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, New South Wales Ministry of Health, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muhleisen
authors.affiliation: National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia7Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Norberg
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Iain S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: McGregor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015990:Placebo Effect; D010919:Placebos; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D004338:Drug Combinations; D010919:Placebos; D002185:Cannabidiol; D013759:Dronabinol; C587251:nabiximols