Pharmacotherapy for the Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder
Authors: Christina A. Brezing, Frances R. Levin
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2020)

Letters4 August 2020Pharmacotherapy for the Treatment of Cannabis Use DisorderChristina A. Brezing, MD and Frances R. Levin, MDChristina A. Brezing, MDNew York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York (C.A.B., F.R.L.) and Frances R. Levin, MDNew York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York (C.A.B., F.R.L.)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L20-0690 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We read Kondo and colleagues' systematic review (1) on pharmacotherapy for cannabis use disorder (CUD) with interest. However, the authors did not address key information about their conclusions that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cannabinoids are "ineffective" and that there is insufficient evidence for other drug classes. We are concerned that their findings may stifle future research on these drugs for this indication.The application of meta-analysis to this topic is premature given the heterogeneity across all aspects of the studies. Although the authors do mention these limitations and provide subgroup analyses, these studies are still underpowered ...References1. Kondo KK, Morasco BJ, Nugent SM, et al. Pharmacotherapy for the treatment of cannabis use disorder. A systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172:398-412. [PMID: 32120384]. doi:10.7326/M19-1105 LinkGoogle Scholar2. Wycoff AM, Metrik J, Trull TJ. Affect and cannabis use in daily life: a review and recommendations for future research. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018;191:223-233. [PMID: 30149283] doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.07.001 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Hill KP, Palastro MD, Gruber SA, et al. Nabilone pharmacotherapy for cannabis dependence: a randomized, controlled pilot study. Am J Addict. 2017;26:795-801. [PMID: 28921814] doi:10.1111/ajad.12622 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Haney M, Cooper ZD, Bedi G, et al. Nabilone decreases marijuana withdrawal and a laboratory measure of marijuana relapse. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2013;38:1557-1565. [PMID: 23443718] doi:10.1038/npp.2013.54 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Brezing CA, Levin FR. The current state of pharmacological treatments for cannabis use disorder and withdrawal. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2018;43:173-194. [PMID: 28875989] doi:10.1038/npp.2017.212 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York (C.A.B., F.R.L.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=L20-0690. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoPharmacotherapy for the Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder Karli K. Kondo , Benjamin J. Morasco , Shannon M. Nugent , Chelsea K. Ayers , Maya E. O'Neil , Michele Freeman , and Devan Kansagara Pharmacotherapy for the Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder Devan Kansagara , Karli K. Kondo , Benjamin J. Morasco , Shannon M. Nugent , and Chelsea K. Ayers Metrics Cited byCannabis use, abuse, and withdrawal: Cannabinergic mechanisms, clinical, and preclinical findings 4 August 2020Volume 173, Issue 3Page: 247-248KeywordsCannabinoidsCannabisCannabis useDisclosureDrug therapyDrugsResearch laboratoriesReuptake inhibitorsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitorsSystematic reviews ePublished: 4 August 2020 Issue Published: 4 August 2020 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2020 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...