Effectiveness of Nefazodone and Bupropion in Treating Marijuana Dependent Individuals
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Purpose
Recent research has identified the following withdrawal symptoms to be associated with abruptly stopping marijuana use: anxiety, irritability, bodily aches and pains, and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms resemble those of both depression and nicotine withdrawal, suggesting that a similar treatment drug may be useful. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of two antidepressant drugs, bupropion and nefazodone, in reducing withdrawal symptoms in marijuana dependent individuals.
| Condition | Intervention | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Marijuana Abuse |
Drug: Nefazodone Drug: Bupropion |
Phase 2 |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double-Blind Primary Purpose: Treatment |
| Official Title: | Marijuana Pharmacotherapies: Controlled Clinical Trials With Nefazodone and Bupropion |
- Marijuana use
- Marijuana withdrawal
| Estimated Enrollment: | 132 |
| Study Start Date: | September 2000 |
| Study Completion Date: | September 2004 |
| Primary Completion Date: | September 2004 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
There have been few controlled studies that focus on treatments for marijuana dependence. The symptoms associated with marijuana withdrawal, including anxiety, irritability, bodily aches and pains, and difficulty sleeping, resemble those caused by depression and nicotine withdrawal. Therefore, antidepressant or nicotine withdrawal medications may be effective in treating marijuana dependence. Nefazodone and bupropion are two medications currently used to treat depression. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of nefazodone and bupropion in alleviating marijuana withdrawal symptoms. In addition, this study will evaluate whether these medications successfully treat marijuana dependent individuals in terms of treatment adherence and drug abstinence.
Participants in this double-blind trial will be randomly assigned to receive nefazodone, bupropion, or placebo. Daily doses of medication will be provided to participants in dated pill boxes; pill boxes will then be returned to the study nurse at each study visit. Medication will be taken in three daily doses; one of the doses will be a nonmedicated pill. Nefazodone will initially be given at a dose of 150 mg per day, which participants will take at bedtime. Every 5 days, the daily dose will increase by 150 mg, to a maximal dose of 600 mg of nefazodone per day. Bupropion will be given at an initial dose of 150 mg, which participants will take in the morning. After 3 days, the daily dose will increase to a total dose of 300 mg of bupropion per day.
Study visits will occur daily, at which time participants will complete drug use and withdrawal symptom reports. In addition, participants will partake in weekly therapy visits, which will consist of four sessions of motivational enhancement therapy followed by sessions of relapse prevention therapy. Bi-weekly psychiatry visits will include evaluations on substance use behavior and overall clinical symptoms, and will last 15-30 minutes.
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Meets DSM-IV criteria for current marijuana dependence
- Uses at least 5 marijuana joints per week
- Currently seeking treatment for marijuana dependence
- Used marijuana in a maladaptive pattern in the 6 months prior to study entry
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of seizures or unexplained loss of consciousness
- Significant and unstable psychiatric condition (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
- Chronic organic mental disorder
- Dependent on any substances of abuse other than marijuana
- Currently at significant suicidal risk
- Unstable physical disorder that may represent a severe untreated condition, such as hypertension (blood pressure greater than 150/90), elevated transaminase levels, or unstable diabetes
- Current or suspected coronary vascular disease
- Has taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor in the 2 weeks prior to study entry
- Currently taking terfenedine, cisapride, astemizole, or pimozide
- History of an allergic reaction to bupropion or nefazodone
- If female, pregnant, breastfeeding, or unwilling to use an adequate method of contraception for the duration of the study
Contacts and Locations| United States, New York | |
| New York State Psychiatric Institute | |
| New York, New York, United States, 10032 | |
| Principal Investigator: | David Mcdowell, MD | New York State Psychiatric Institute |
More Information
Additional Information:
No publications provided
| Responsible Party: | Frances R. Levin, M.D, NYSPI |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00249509 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | NIDA-13191-1, R01-DA013191-1, DPMC |
| Study First Received: | November 3, 2005 |
| Last Updated: | October 15, 2009 |
| Health Authority: | United States: Federal Government |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Marijuana Abuse Substance-Related Disorders Mental Disorders Nefazodone Bupropion Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation Antidepressive Agents Psychotropic Drugs Central Nervous System Agents |
Therapeutic Uses Pharmacologic Actions Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors Dopamine Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Physiological Effects of Drugs |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 22, 2013