Tirzepatide for the Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder

What Was Tested

This registered phase 2 trial tested Tirzepatide.

This is a pilot randomized cross-over trial to examine the effects of tirzepatide on cue-reactivity among individuals with cannabis use disorder.

It had two arms (groups): tirzepatide (experimental) and placebo (placebo comparator).

Matching placebo subcutaneous injection once.

The registry classes the interventions as drug.

More on the Plan

Eligible participants will be scheduled in random order to receive either tirzepatide or placebo injection in double-blind fashion and cross-over design.

Outcomes will be assessed at the following study visit.

Washout period of at least 4 weeks will be required between tirzepatide or placebo injections.

Primary outcome of interest is cue-induced craving to cannabis-related visual cues.

Who Took Part

The registry lists 6 planned participants were the target.

It was open to people of any sex aged from 18 years with no upper age limit.

Healthy volunteers were not accepted; participants needed the condition being studied.

Examples of who could join: English speaking adults aged 18 and above. Diagnosed with DSM-5 cannabis use disorder, severe.

The full record lists 2 inclusion and 20 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: active psychosis, active suicidality or homicidality or any psychiatric condition that impair ability to provide informed consent; any current or lifetime diagnosis of eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating or; comorbid substance use disorder.

How the Study Was Run

Design: randomized, crossover and quadruple-blind.

Because people in this Tirzepatide study were split into groups at random, differences between the groups are less likely to reflect who happened to join each one.

Each person switched between Tirzepatide and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

Blinding on both sides kept the participants and researchers unaware of who received Tirzepatide.

Those kept unaware of assignments: participant, care provider, investigator and outcomes assessor.

It started in 2027-03-01 with completion listed for 2028-06-30.

Its stated primary purpose is treatment.

What Was Measured

Researchers chose this as the main measure: Cue-Induced Craving (time frame: 5 weeks).

It also tracked 9 secondary outcomes, for example Serious adverse event, Cravings, Abstinence, Weight, Blood sugar and Hemoglobin A1c.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a phase 2, randomized trial of Tirzepatide in 6 people.

Its size is small, so on its own it can only give an early look.

Its status is not yet recruiting; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the Tirzepatide compound page, all human trials.