From the Guidelines
There is no established supplement to stop cannabis addiction, but medications like Nabilone may help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Available Evidence
- The FDA has not approved any medications specifically designed to treat cannabis use disorder (CUD), but medications like Nabilone, a synthetic analogue of D9-THC, have been shown to reduce symptoms of cannabis withdrawal syndrome (CWS) and reduce cannabis craving in persons with CUD 1.
- Nabilone has anxiolytic, anti-emetic, and analgesic properties, but it is associated with adverse effects like drowsiness, dizziness, and dry mouth.
- The expert panel in the study by the Perioperative Pain and Addiction Interdisciplinary Network (PAIN) agreed that Nabilone and nabiximols can reduce the symptoms of CWS and reduce cannabis craving, but the most appropriate dosages for these interventions are not known 1.
Treatment Approaches
- Psychosocial interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy are cited as effective but underutilized treatments of CUD 1.
- Comprehensive insurance coverage of evidence-based treatments of cannabis use disorder is supported by the American College of Physicians (ACP) 1.
Important Considerations
- The ACP strongly supports initiatives to address stigma associated with behavioral health, including substance use disorder, and public information campaigns to increase awareness about CUD and the efficacy of treatment 1.
- Barriers to treatment of CUD, such as undue prior authorization and use management, excessive cost sharing, and insufficient access to physicians and other health care professionals with expertise in diagnosing and treating CUD, must be addressed 1.
From the Research
Supplements for Stopping Cannabis Addiction
There are several studies that have investigated the use of supplements to help stop cannabis addiction. Some of the key findings include:
- Naltrexone has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and depression rates, and increasing functioning and perceived need for drug use in individuals with cannabis addiction 2
- Nabiximols, a spray containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), has been found to be effective in reducing the number of days on which individuals use cannabis 3
- Other supplements such as bupropion, escitalopram, and bromazepam have been studied, but have been found to be less efficacious than naltrexone in treating cannabis addiction 2
- There are no medications currently approved specifically for medically assisted withdrawal (MAW) from cannabis, but medications such as cannabis agonists are used 'off-label' in clinical practice 4
Pharmacological Agents
Some pharmacological agents that have been studied for their potential in treating cannabis addiction include:
- Naltrexone: an opioid receptor antagonist that has been shown to be effective in reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms in individuals with cannabis addiction 2
- Nabiximols: a spray containing THC and CBD that has been found to be effective in reducing the number of days on which individuals use cannabis 3
- Bupropion: an antidepressant that has been studied as a potential treatment for cannabis addiction, but has been found to be less efficacious than naltrexone 2
- Escitalopram: an antidepressant that has been studied as a potential treatment for cannabis addiction, but has been found to be less efficacious than naltrexone 2
- Bromazepam: a benzodiazepine that has been studied as a potential treatment for cannabis addiction, but has been found to be less efficacious than naltrexone 2
Limitations of Current Research
While there have been several studies on the use of supplements to help stop cannabis addiction, there are still many limitations to the current research. For example: