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.
Phase:
Phase 4
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Collaborators:
Michigan State University University of Massachusetts, Worcester University of Miami University of South Carolina