This clinical trial is being done to better understand how daily treatment with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), or the combination of CBD plus THC affects knee osteoarthritis pain and other related symptoms. Consented participants will have a screening period and visit (up to 30 days to treatment start). If participants pass the screening phase, they will be randomly assigned to take one of the investigational study drugs. For this study, participants will not know when or if they are taking CBD, THC, THC plus CBD, and when or if taking placebo. Clinical pain will be assessed at multiple times throughout the study, and eligibility will be re-assessed at two weeks into the treatment period. It is possible that subjects will not be able to participate in the study after 14 days of of treatment. The treatment period will take approximately 16 weeks and then a follow-up period for approximately 2 weeks. In addition to treatment, participants will have clinical assessments, blood draws, questionnaires, daily pain diaries, sensory testing, as well as have functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI).
The study hypothesizes that: * CBD alone will exert a peripheral anti-inflammatory effect by decreasing levels of Interleukin (IL)-6 * THC alone will modify central nervous system (CNS) pain via decreasing insula to Default Mode Network (DMN) connectivity * CBD plus THC will do both.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
200
Placebo drug will be taken similarly to the THC and CBD and be matched to keep the trial blinded. In the event that 2.5 mg capsules of dronabinal capsules become unavailable, an equivalent product will be issued to participants and the comparator and placebo arms will be correspondingly adjusted to preserve blinding. If a participant's dose is not well-tolerated, the participant may initiate dose reductions with the study team. Participants will be instructed to eat a meal or snack greater than one hour after taking study drug.
Epidiolex doses will be 0.37 milliliter (mL) for seven days of treatment and then 0.75 mL two times a day (b.i.d) for the remaining days of this treatment. In the event that 2.5 mg capsules of dronabinal capsules become unavailable, an equivalent product will be issued to participants and the comparator and placebo arms will be correspondingly adjusted to preserve blinding. If a participant's dose is not well-tolerated, the participant may initiate dose reductions with the study team. Participants will be instructed to eat a meal or snack greater than one hour after taking study drug.
Dronabinol Capsules doses will be 2.5 mg b.i.d. for seven days of treatment and then 5 mg b.i.d. for the remaining days of this treatment. In the event that 2.5 mg capsules of dronabinal capsules become unavailable, an equivalent product will be issued to participants and the comparator and placebo arms will be correspondingly adjusted to preserve blinding. If a participant's dose is not well-tolerated, the participant may initiate dose reductions with the study team. Participants will be instructed to eat a meal or snack greater than one hour after taking study drug.
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
RECRUITINGDefault mode network (DMN) to insula connectivity via functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI)
Functional connectivity difference maps of insula to DMN connectivity using Independent Component Analysis and seed based connectivity. A reduction in the Z-score as a result of treatment will serve as the primary outcome measure.
Time frame: Day 15, and approximately day 99 of treatment
Change in pre-post measurements of inflammatory marker IL-6.
Serum IL-6
Time frame: Day 15, and approximately day 99 of treatment
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