       Document 0082
 DOCN  M9580082
 TI    Dronabinol as a treatment for anorexia associated with weight loss in
       patients with AIDS.
 DT    9506
 AU    Beal JE; Olson R; Laubenstein L; Morales JO; Bellman P; Yangco B;
       Lefkowitz L; Plasse TF; Shepard KV; St. John's Hospital, Tulsa,
       Oklahoma, USA.
 SO    J Pain Symptom Manage. 1995 Feb;10(2):89-97. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE MED/95248169
 AB    The effects of dronabinol on appetite and weight were evaluated in 139
       patients with AIDS-related anorexia and > or = 2.3 kg weight loss in a
       multi-institutional study. Patients were randomized to receive 2.5 mg
       dronabinol twice daily or placebo. Patients rated appetite, mood, and
       nausea by using a 100-mm visual analogue scale 3 days weekly. Efficacy
       was evaluable in 88 patients. Dronabinol was associated with increased
       appetite above baseline (38% vs 8% for placebo, P = 0.015), improvement
       in mood (10% vs -2%, P = 0.06), and decreased nausea (20% vs 7%; P =
       0.05). Weight was stable in dronabinol patients, while placebo
       recipients had a mean loss of 0.4 kg (P = 0.14). Of the dronabinol
       patients, 22% gained > or = 2 kg, compared with 10.5% of placebo
       recipients (P = 0.11). Side effects were mostly mild to moderate in
       severity (euphoria, dizziness, thinking abnormalities); there was no
       difference in discontinued therapy between dronabinol (8.3%) and placebo
       (4.5%) recipients. Dronabinol was found to be safe and effective for
       anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS  Adult  Anorexia/*DRUG
       THERAPY/*ETIOLOGY/PHYSIOPATHOLOGY  Double-Blind Method  Female  Human
       Male  Middle Age  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  Tetrahydrocannabinol/ADVERSE
       EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE  *Weight Loss  CLINICAL TRIAL  JOURNAL ARTICLE
       MULTICENTER STUDY  RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

