Feasibility of Cannabidiol for the Treatment of Long COVID
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Long COVID is a common outcome after infection with the SARS-COV-2 virus and the need for
treatment and ongoing support for people experiencing long COVID has been increasingly
recognised, including through the establishment of dedicated treatment units within the NHS.
While symptoms - and their severity - may vary greatly between individuals, some of the
common symptoms associated with long COVID include fatigue, breathlessness, pain and sleep
disturbances. In this study we will test the feasibility of a broad spectrum cannabidiol
dominant formulation (Medicabilis) for treating these symptoms in people with a diagnosis of
long COVID. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the primary non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, and it
is being increasingly used in the treatment of symptoms which are similar to those associated
with long COVID. Additionally, there is some evidence that cannabidiol may be effective in
reducing inflammation associated with COVID infection. Together, this evidence suggests that
it is possible that CBD may be an effective treatment for people diagnosed with long COVID.
We will therefore conduct a feasibility trial in which 30 people are prescribed CBD dominant
medical cannabis. Patients will take this medication daily for five months. We will collect
monthly self-report assessments of common symptoms including breathlessness, fatigue, mood,
cognition and pain and real-time data on heart rate, physical activity and sleep using
wearable technology. We will also collect daily self-report assessments of key symptoms
(mood, pain, fatigue and breathlessness) via a smartphone app. Our study will establish
whether it is feasibe to recruit and retain patients with a diagnosis of long-COVID into a
trial of CBD. We will also monitor whether there are any side effects to assess the safety
and tolerability of medicinal cannabis. Our results will determine the feasibility of
medicinal cannabis in the treatment of long COVID and whether it is safe to use.