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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2016 Jan;25(1):69-75.
doi: 10.1111/ajad.12324. Epub 2015 Dec 20.

Vilazodone for cannabis dependence: A randomized, controlled pilot trial

Aimee L McRae-Clark  1 , Nathaniel L Baker  2 , Kevin M Gray  1 , Therese Killeen  1 , Karen J Hartwell  1   3 , Susan J Simonian  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Vilazodone for cannabis dependence: A randomized, controlled pilot trial

Aimee L McRae-Clark et al. Am J Addict. 2016 Jan.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vilazodone, a selective serotonin receptor inhibitor and partial 5-HT1A agonist, for treatment of cannabis dependence.

Methods: Seventy-six cannabis-dependent adults were randomized to receive either up to 40 mg/day of vilazodone (n = 41) or placebo (n = 35) for 8 weeks combined with a brief motivational enhancement therapy intervention and contingency management to encourage study retention. Cannabis use outcomes were assessed via weekly urine cannabinoid tests; secondary outcomes included cannabis use self-report and cannabis craving.

Results: Participants in both groups reported reduced self-reported cannabis use over the course of the study; however, vilazodone provided no advantage over placebo in reducing cannabis use. Men had significantly lower creatinine-adjusted cannabinoid levels and a trend for increased negative urine cannabinoid tests than women.

Discussion and conclusions: Vilazodone was not more efficacious than placebo in reducing cannabis use. Important gender differences were noted, with women having worse cannabis use outcomes than men.

Scientific significance: Further medication development efforts for cannabis use disorders are needed, and gender should be considered as an important variable in future trials.

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Conflict of interest statement

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort Diagram and flowchart (ITT: Intent to treat; MITT: Modified intent to treat)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Proportion of participants with negative weekly UDS for A) Intent-to-treat and B) available data samples
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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