Effects of Citicoline on Brain Function and Behavior in Marijuana-Dependent Individuals
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The Three Aims of this study are (only studies for Aim 1 were completed)
1. Measure the impact of citicoline on marihuana use patterns in subjects' individualized
natural settings and responses to marihuana challenge using functional brain MRI scans.
Hypothesis - 2 g/day citicoline will produce greater reductions in marihuana use and
craving in heavy marihuana users than placebo citicoline over a 8-week treatment period
as measured in their natural environments. The same participants will experience greater
improved brain activation patterns and an improvement in cognitive functioning compared
to placebo controlled subjects.
2. Measure the effects of citicoline on marihuana absorption and metabolism and determine
if these changes parallel changes in subjective and physiological responses in a
laboratory setting.
Hypothesis - Chronic (8 weeks) treatment with 2 g/day citicoline will produce increases
in subjective and physiological effects of both acute marihuana smoking and placebo
marihuana smoking compared to chronic placebo citicoline. Citicoline will have no effect
on marihuana pharmacokinetics.
3. Measure the effects of citicoline on marijuana-induced cue-induced craving and brain
electrical activity (EEG).
Hypothesis - Chronic (8 weeks) treatment with 2 g/day citicoline will reduce objective
measures of marijuana cue-reactivity, and subjective reports of craving in response to
marihuana cues will also be attenuated compared to chronic placebo citicoline treatment.