Background Benzodiazepine (BZD) use disorders are a common clinical problem among methadone maintenance treatment patients and have adverse effects on clinical outcomes. Objectives To evaluate gabapentin for the outpatient treatment of BZD abuse or dependence in methadone maintenance patients. Methods Participants (n=19) using BZDs at least 4 days per week were enrolled into an eight-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled outpatient pilot trial. All participants received a manual-guided supportive psychotherapy aimed to promote abstinence. Study medication was titrated over a two-week period to a maximum dose of gabapentin 1200 mg or placebo three times a day. BZD use was assessed using urine toxicology confirmed self-report. BZDs were not provided as part of study participation; participants were provided guidance to gradually reduce BZD intake. Results Sixteen participants had post-randomization data for analysis. Retention at week eight was 50%. The mean dose of gabapentin achieved by titration was 2666 mg/day (SD=±1446). There were no significant between group differences on BZD use outcomes (amount BZD per day (Mann-Whitney U = 27, p = .745), abstinent days per week (U = 28, p = .811)) and CIWA-BZD scale (U = 29.0, p = .913). One participant in the gabapentin group discontinued study medication because of peripheral edema. Two participants in the placebo group requested admission for inpatient detoxification treatment. Conclusion Gabapentin was not found to differ from placebo, although the small sample recruited for this trial may have limited the ability to detect a difference.
Background There are no efficacious pharmacotherapies for cannabis dependence. The effects of quetiapine are well matched to the symptoms of cannabis withdrawal and could be useful in the treatment of cannabis dependence. Objectives To evaluate quetiapine for the treatment of cannabis dependence and determine the optimal dosing. Methods In an eight-week open-label outpatient pilot trial, we evaluated the feasibility of quetiapine treatment for cannabis dependence in 15 outpatients. Quetiapine was gradually titrated to 600 mg or the maximum tolerated dose. Results The mean study retention was 6.5 weeks (±2.3), with 67% of participants completing all eight weeks of the trial. The mean maximum dose achieved was 197 mg/day (range: 25–600 mg/day). Only two of the 15 participants were able to achieve the target dose of 600 mg daily. There were no serious adverse events and no participants were discontinued from the trial due to adverse effects. The most common reported adverse effects were fatigue (80% of participants) and somnolence (47%). From baseline to week 8, the modeled overall decrease in daily dollar value of marijuana was 76.3% (CI: 63.4%, 84.7%). Over the eight weeks of the study, there was a 46.9% (CI: 11%, 68.3%) decrease in urine tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCOOH) levels. Conclusions These preliminary results are promising in that quetiapine treatment was tolerated by cannabis-dependent patients and associated with decreased cannabis use. The recommended maximum target dose for cannabis-dependent patients is 300 mg daily. These preliminary data support further evaluation of quetiapine as a treatment for cannabis dependence.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.