Clozapine for Cannabis Use in Schizophrenia

Completed · Phase 4

Conditions studied: Schizophrenia, Cannabis Abuse, Cannabis Dependence, Dual Diagnosis

In brief

Many individuals with schizophrenia also suffer from marijuana addiction that worsens their problems related to schizophrenia. Most of the medications prescribed for schizophrenia have no effect on reducing marijuana use. Preliminary data suggests that clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic, may limit marijuana use in people diagnosed with schizophrenia, but it is not commonly used due to its side effects and is reserved for people who do not respond to other antipsychotic medications. In the proposed study, 132 individuals who are diagnosed with both schizophrenia and a cannabis use disorder will be randomized to a 12-week treatment course with either clozapine or risperidone (another commonly prescribed antipsychotic medication) to test the hypothesis that patient treated with clozapine will have decreased cannabis use as compared to patients treated with risperidone. Should this study indicate that clozapine will lessen marijuana use in persons diagnosed with schizophrenia more than risperidone, it will provide evidence needed to begin to shift clinical practice toward its use in this population.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01639872

Run by

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

People needed

49

Starts

2013-05-01

Expected to finish

2017-03-29

Last updated by the study team

2020-05-05

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia
• Clinical diagnosis of a cannabis use disorder (abuse or dependence)

You may not qualify if…

• Pregnant,trying to become pregnant or nursing
• History of a seizure disorder
• Current treatment with clozapine or risperidone
• Contraindication to treatment with clozapine or risperidone

Where it is running

• CNS Network Inc — Garden Grove, California, United States
• Pacific Research Partners — Oakland, California, United States
• University of Miami — Miami, Florida, United States
• Unversity of Massachusetts Medical School — Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
• Michigan State University / Cherry Street Health Services — Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
• Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center — Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States
• University of North Carolina/UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
• University of South Carolina — Columbia, South Carolina, United States
• Rutland Regional Medical Center — Rutland, Vermont, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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