Oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol suppresses cannabis withdrawal symptoms

Budney, Alan J.; Vandrey, Ryan G.; Hughes, John R.; Moore, Brent A.; Bahrenburg, Betsy

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.04.014

« Previous Next »Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume 86, Issue 1 , Pages 22-29, 5 January 2007

Oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol suppresses cannabis withdrawal symptoms

Alan J. Budney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 W. Markham, Little Rock, AR 72205, United States
- Corresponding author at: 4301 W. Markham St., Slot 843, Little Rock, AR 72206, United States. Tel.: +1 501 686 5207; fax: +1 501 526 7816.
Ryan G. Vandrey
- Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 5510 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
John R. Hughes
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 38 Fletcher Place, Burlington, VT 05401, United States
Brent A. Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 34 Park St., New Haven, CT 06519, United States
Betsy Bahrenburg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 38 Fletcher Place, Burlington, VT 05401, United States

Received 15 February 2006; received in revised form 21 April 2006; accepted 21 April 2006.

Abstract

Background

This study assessed whether oral administration of delta-9-tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) effectively suppressed cannabis withdrawal in an outpatient environment. The primary aims were to establish the pharmacological specificity of the withdrawal syndrome and to obtain information relevant to determining the potential use of THC to assist in the treatment of cannabis dependence.

Method

Eight adult, daily cannabis users who were not seeking treatment participated in a 40-day, within-subject ABACAD study. Participants administered daily doses of placebo, 30mg (10mg/tid), or 90mg (30mg/tid) oral THC during three, 5-day periods of abstinence from cannabis use separated by 7–9 periods of smoking cannabis as usual.

Results

Comparison of withdrawal symptoms across conditions indicated that (1) the lower dose of THC reduced withdrawal discomfort, and (2) the higher dose produced additional suppression in withdrawal symptoms such that symptom ratings did not differ from the smoking-as-usual conditions. Minimal adverse effects were associated with either active dose of THC.

Conclusions

This demonstration of dose-responsivity replicates and extends prior findings of the pharmacological specificity of the cannabis withdrawal syndrome. The efficacy of these doses for suppressing cannabis withdrawal suggests oral THC might be used as an intervention to aid cannabis cessation attempts.

Keywords: Cannabis, Marijuana, Withdrawal, THC, Dronabinol