@article{ref1,
title="Nefazodone decreases anxiety during marijuana withdrawal in humans",
journal="Psychopharmacology",
year="2003",
author="Haney, Margaret and Hart, Carl L. and Ward, Amie S. and Foltin, Richard W.",
volume="165",
number="2",
pages="157-165",
abstract="RATIONALE: Symptoms of marijuana withdrawal include increased irritability, depression and anxiety, and decreased sleep quality. Nefazodone, which is an antidepressant with sedative properties, may attenuate symptoms of marijuana withdrawal. OBJECTIVE: The present within-subject, placebo-controlled study investigated the effects of nefazodone during marijuana withdrawal. METHODS: Marijuana smokers [ n=7; averaging 6.0 (+/-1.3) marijuana cigarettes/day, 6.4 (+/-0.4) days/week], not seeking treatment for marijuana use, were maintained on two doses of nefazodone (0, 450 mg/day) for 26 days each. Each maintenance condition began with an outpatient phase (9 days) and continued with an inpatient phase (17 days) in a residential laboratory. Marijuana was smoked 5 times per inpatient day at 1000, 1300, 1600, 1900 and 2200 hours. On days 1-4 (baseline), the first four marijuana cigarettes were placebo (0.00% THC), while the final marijuana cigarette was active (3.04% THC). On inpatient days 5-8, only active marijuana was smoked, while on days 9-16, only placebo marijuana was smoked. Mood, psychomotor task performance, food intake and sleep were measured daily. The order of maintenance dose was counterbalanced between groups. RESULTS: Nefazodone maintenance did not alter the acute effects of active marijuana as compared to placebo nefazodone maintenance. During marijuana withdrawal, nefazodone decreased ratings of &quot;Anxious&quot;, and &quot;Muscle Pain&quot;, while having no effect on the marked increase in ratings of &quot;Irritable&quot;, &quot;Miserable&quot; or decreased sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Nefazodone decreased certain marijuana withdrawal symptoms, but participants still reported substantial discomfort. These data provide further evidence of marijuana withdrawal, and highlight the need for more marijuana treatment options.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0033-3158",
doi="10.1007/s00213-002-1210-3",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00213-002-1210-3"
}