5HT‐2C agonist lorcaserin decreases cannabis self‐administration in daily cannabis smokers. (3rd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arout, Caroline A.; Cooper, Ziva D.; Reed, Stephanie Collins; Foltin, Richard W.; Comer, Sandra D.; Levin, Frances R.; Haney, Margaret
• Is Part Of: Addiction biology. Volume 26:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2021-01-03
• Subjects: cannabis use disorder -- lorcaserin -- marijuana; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1111/adb.12993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-6215

Abstract

Abstract: There are no FDA‐approved treatments for cannabis use disorder (CUD). Preclinical research has shown that the 5HT‐2C agonist lorcaserin attenuates cue‐induced reinstatement of THC seeking and self‐administration. The goal of this placebo‐controlled, counterbalanced, within‐subject human laboratory study was to examine lorcaserin's effects on cannabis intoxication and self‐administration. Lorcaserin (10 mg BID) was administered during one of two 13‐day inpatient phases and placebo during the other; each phase was separated by ≥7 days of washout. Inpatient phases comprised (1) standardized cannabis administration (7.0% THC) at no financial cost (intoxication), counterbalanced with (2) the option to self‐administer cannabis following either 0 or 3 days of abstinence. Cognitive task performance, food intake, subjective ratings of drug effects, objective/subjective sleep measures, and tobacco cigarette use were also assessed. Fifteen normal‐weight, daily cannabis users (4F, 11M) not seeking treatment for CUD completed the study. Lorcaserin significantly reduced cannabis self‐administration following 0 and 3 days of cannabis abstinence and also reduced craving for cannabis during abstinence. Lorcaserin produced small but significant increases in positive cannabis ratings and body weight relative to placebo. Lorcaserin also reduced tobacco cigarette smoking on days of cannabis administration relative to placebo. During abstinence, subjective but not objective measures of sleep quality worsened during lorcaserin maintenance. Overall, lorcaserin's ability to decrease drug taking and cannabis craving in nontreatment‐seeking cannabis users supports further investigation of 5HT‐2C agonists as potential pharmacotherapies for CUD. Abstract : Lorcaserin significantly reduced cannabis self‐administration relative to placebo, which was measured following 3 days of cannabis abstinence and under non‐abstinent conditions. Lorcaserin also reduced craving for cannabis during abstinence relative to placebo. Lorcaserin's ability to decrease both cannabis use and craving in non‐treatment seeking cannabis users supports further investigation of 5HT‐2C agonists as potential pharmacotherapies for CUD.