Fluoxetine versus placebo for the marijuana use of depressed alcoholics

Addict Behav. 1999 Jan-Feb;24(1):111-4. doi: 10.1016/s0306-4603(98)00050-1.

Abstract

The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of the SSRI antidepressant fluoxetine versus placebo for the marijuana use of depressed alcoholics. There are no previous reports involving and SSRI antidepressant for marijuana abuse. This analysis involved a subsample of 22 depressed alcoholic marijuana users out of a total of 51 depressed alcoholics. The entire sample was involved in a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of fluoxetine versus placebo in depressed alcoholics. During the course of the trial, the cumulative number of marijuana cigarettes used was almost 20 times as high in the placebo group as in the fluoxetine group. Also, the number of days of marijuana use during the study was five times higher in the placebo group than in the fluoxetine group. These data suggest efficacy for fluoxetine in decreasing marijuana use of depressed alcoholics.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / complications
  • Alcoholism / drug therapy*
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / therapeutic use*
  • Depressive Disorder / complications
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry)
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Fluoxetine / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marijuana Smoking*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Fluoxetine