A pilot trial investigating the efficacy of lithium carbonate in the management of cannabis withdrawal

NDARC Staff

Jan Copeland

Other Investigators

Adam Winstock (South West Sydney Area Health Service) and Mark Montebello (The Langton Centre, South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service)

Rationale

Cannabis withdrawal in severely dependent individuals can be a barrier to achieving abstinence. There are no pharmacotherapies currently available to assist in the management of cannabis withdrawal. Lithium carbonate has been shown to be promising in rodent models, and in a small open-label trial in humans, in the abolition of cannabis withdrawal symptoms.

Aims

To assess the acceptability and effectiveness of lithium carbonate in the management of cannabis withdrawal among adult, cannabis dependent, treatment seekers in an inpatient setting.

Design and Method

An open-label inpatient trial aimed to investigate the acceptability and effect of higher level and longer dosing of lithium carbonate on the symptomatology and course of cannabis withdrawal in 20 treatment-seeking adults in a controlled setting. Participants were admitted to an inpatient drug detoxification facility in SSWAHS and were administered supervised lithium carbonate 500mg b.d. for seven days. Cannabis withdrawal and a range of physical and psychological parameters were closely monitored. Participants were followed up 14, 28 and 90 days post admission. Urinalysis for cannabinoids was used to confirm self-reported levels of use.

Benefits

This open-label study supported the promising earlier findings on the effectiveness of lithium carbonate in the management of cannabis withdrawal and has provided evidence to strengthen the case for funding a double blind randomised controlled trial of this medication.

Output

A paper has been submitted for consideration in an international peer-reviewed journal. The findings have been reported at a national conference.

Funding

NSW Health