Adult ADHD
Visual Abstracts
A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Atomoxetine in Marijuana- Dependent Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Summarized by Charles Li, MD
July 25, 2022
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Can atomoxetine be used to treat ADHD in marijuana users?
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A small clinical trial found that atomoxetine can reduce ADHD symptoms in marijuana users.
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However, it was unable to reduce the amount of marijuana used by the participants.
Visual Abstract
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Methods and Objectives
Researchers wanted to see whether an ADHD medication, atomoxetine, could be used to treat ADHD and reduce marijuana use.
They recruited 38 adults who had ADHD and were dependent on marijuana.
They gave them either atomoxetine or a placebo control for 12 weeks and measured their ADHD symptoms and marijuana use.
Study Quote
This study evaluated the effects of atomoxetine on the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and marijuana use in marijuana-dependent adults. In conjunction with motivational interviewing, participants received either atomoxetine (n = 19) or matching placebo (n = 19...
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Results and Conclusions
They found that atomoxetine could reduce ADHD symptoms in marijuana users. Based on the clinician's assessment, those who were given the ADHD drug had significantly better symptoms after the trial than those given a placebo control.
A small clinical trial found that atomoxetine can treat ADHD symptoms in marijuana users.
However, there were no significant reductions in marijuana usage. Treating ADHD did not affect how much marijuana participants used.
While this trial was too small to evaluate side effects properly, they found that gastrointestinal and sexual side effects were the most common among participants given atomoxetine.
This trial was too small of a trial to draw firm conclusions on the effectiveness of atomoxetine in ADHD in marijuana users.
Among the small group studied, there weren't any unexpected side effects, which was encouraging. However, we'll need more studies in this area before we know for sure that atomoxetine is safe and effective when used with marijuana.
Study Quote
Participants randomized to atomoxetine had greater improvement in ADHD on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale than participants treated with placebo. No treatment group differences in self-rated ADHD symptoms, overall Wender-Reimherr Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Scale sc...
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A small clinical trial found that atomoxetine can reduce ADHD symptoms among marijuana users. However, the study did not find differences in marijuana usage between the treatment and control groups.