A pilot study using nabilone for symptomatic treatment in Huntington's disease

Mov Disord. 2009 Nov 15;24(15):2254-9. doi: 10.1002/mds.22809.

Abstract

Pilot study of nabilone in Huntington's disease (HD). Double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of nabilone versus placebo. Primary outcome, Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) total motor score. Secondary measures: UHDRS subsections for chorea, cognition and behavior, and neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI). 44 randomized patients received either nabilone (1 or 2 mg) followed by placebo (n = 22), or placebo followed by nabilone (n = 22). Recruiting was straightforward. Nabilone safe and well tolerated, no psychotic episodes. Assessment of either dose of nabilone versus placebo showed a treatment difference of 0.86 (95% CI: -1.8 to 3.52) for total motor score; 1.68 (95% CI: 0.44 to 2.92) for chorea; 3.57 (95% CI: -3.41 to 10.55) for UHDRS cognition; 4.01 (95% CI: -0.11 to 8.13) for UHDRS behavior, and 6.43 (95% CI: 0.2 to 12.66) for the NPI. Larger longer RCT of nabilone in HD is feasible and warranted.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Behavioral Symptoms / drug therapy*
  • Behavioral Symptoms / etiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Dronabinol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dronabinol / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / complications*
  • Huntington Disease / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Pilot Projects

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • nabilone
  • Dronabinol