An experimental drug combining nabilone and gabapentin reduced the severity and bothersomeness of cannabis withdrawal symptoms in a small randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving adults with moderate-to-severe cannabis use disorder. The results offer an early signal of potential benefit, but with only 14 participants, a short study period and financial ties to the drug’s developer, much larger trials will be needed to determine whether PP-01 actually works as a treatment.
Quitting cannabis after frequent, long-term use does not typically produce the kind of potentially fatal withdrawal associated with some other substances, such as cocaine or opioids. Cannabis also does not cause fatal overdoses. Still, quitting the plant isn’t always easy.
There is a clinically recognized cannabis withdrawal syndrome. It can emerge after stopping or reducing heavy, prolonged use and can include irritability, anxiety, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, restlessness or depressed mood, along with physical symptoms such as abdominal pain, sweating, tremors or headaches. It typically begins within the first 24 to 48 hours, peaks during the first week, and can last for one to two weeks.
That doesn’t mean everyone who uses cannabis will develop dependence, either. But there is such a thing as cannabis use disorder, a diagnosis that describes patterns of use that cause significant distress or impairment in everyday life. Withdrawal can be one of its manifestations and, for some people, can become a barrier to quitting or contribute to relapse.
That’s exactly what PP-01—an experimental drug recently evaluated in a small study published in The American Journal on Addictions—is designed to address.
Two Known Drugs, One New Combination
PP-01 combines nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, with gabapentin, a medication currently used for neurological indications. In the trial, the formulation contained 6 mg of nabilone and 600 mg of gabapentin. The hypothesis is that the two substances …
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Author: Camila Berriex / High Times
