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Dose-Ranging Trial of Inhaled Cannabis for Acute Migraine Treatment

Phase 2
Suspended
Conditions
Cannabis
Migraine
THC
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT05427630
Lead Sponsor
University of California, San Diego
Brief Summary

This pilot crossover study will evaluate 3 different potencies of inhaled cannabis (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) and inhaled placebo cannabis for the acute treatment of migraine.

Detailed Description

In this double-blind, randomized, crossover trial, subjects will treat 4 separate migraine attacks with 4 different treatments. Inhaled cannabis will be administered using a portable system. Subjects will self-administer inhaled cannabis as early as possible in the course of a migraine, taking 4 puffs of 1) THC 2.5%, 2) THC 5%, 3) THC 10%, or 4) placebo. Patients will treat each of the 4 distinct migraine attacks with a different cannabis sample. Outcomes measured will include pain freedom, most bothersome symptom (MBS), and pain relief as well as presence or absence of photophobia, phonophobia, and nausea at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2 hours, 4 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
SUSPENDED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥ 21 and ≤ 65
  • Able to communicate in English
  • Migraine, with or without aura, in its episodic or chronic manifestations, as per the International Headache Society (IHS) classification International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) criteria (section 1.1, 1.2, 1.3).(48)
  • Ability to provide informed consent and complete website questionnaires in English
  • Agrees not to use cannabis outside of the study during participation in the study
  • Agrees not to use opioids or barbiturates during participation in the study
  • Agrees not to drive a motor vehicle within 4.5 hours following last use of inhaled cannabis during participation in the study
Exclusion Criteria
  • Positive urine drug test for THC, barbiturates, opioids, oxycodone, or methadone prior to enrollment
  • Pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding
  • Prisoner
  • Known cognitive impairment
  • Institutionalized
  • Current moderate-severe or severe depression
  • Current or past history of bipolar depression, schizophrenia, or psychosis
  • Current or past history of cannabis, alcohol, opioid, or amphetamine abuse or other substance use disorder at the discretion of the research team
  • Active pulmonary disease, class IV heart failure, cirrhosis, or other severe medical illnesses at the discretion of the research team.
  • Allergy to cannabis

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
THC ~2.5%THC ~2.5%Inhalation of cannabis flower containing THC \~2.5%
THC ~10%THC ~10%Inhalation of cannabis flower containing THC \~10%
THC ~5%THC ~5%Inhalation of cannabis flower containing THC \~5%
Sham CannabisSham CannabisInhalation of cannabis flower from which the THC and CBD have been extracted
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Headache Pain Freedom at 2 Hour Post-Treatment2 Hours Post-Treatment

Dichotomous outcome of pain freedom defined as reduction from moderate/severe pain to no pain

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Headache Pain Relief at 2 Hours Post-Treatment2 Hours Post-Treatment

Dichotomous outcome of pain reduction defined as reduction from moderate/severe pain to mild/no pain

Most Bothersome Symptom (MBS) Freedom at 2 Hours Post-Treatment2 Hours Post-Treatment

Dichotomous outcome of resolution of most bothersome symptom (of photophobia, phonophobia, or nausea) selected at the beginning of the migraine prior to cannabis administration

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Center for Pain Medicine, UC San Diego

🇺🇸

La Jolla, California, United States

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