Evaluation of Suvorexant for Reduction of Brain Reactivity in Patients With Cannabis Use Disorder (Pilot Study)

NCT ID: NCT06584942

Last Updated: 2026-01-20

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE4
• Total Enrollment: 20 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-10
• Study Completion Date: 2026-07-31

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to observe the impact of suvorexant, sold as BELSOMRA, on brain activity of people who frequently use cannabis. Suvorexant is an FDA-approved medication to treat insomnia. Researchers think that suvorexant may reduce activity in certain parts of the brain associated with cannabis use. Researchers are studying if this medication does affect brain activity in these areas.

For this study, participants will be asked to complete four study visits over approximately 14 days. Each study visit will include interviews, questionnaires, and collection of biological samples for laboratory testing. All participants will be asked to take suvorexant, an FDA approved medication for treatment of insomnia, for 14 days. They will complete two one-hour functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans: one before starting the study medication and one after 14 days of taking the study medication. MRI is used in typical medical settings and is considered to be safe. Participants will also be asked to complete a short daily survey for approximately 14 days.

Conditions

Cue-reactivity; Cannabis Use Disorder; Functional MRI; Orexin Antagonist

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Open-Label Suvorexant

Participants will complete study visits at Day 0 (Baseline, V2), Day 7 (V3), and Day 14 (V4). After completing a baseline pre-treatment fMRI scan, participants will begin taking 10 mg of suvorexant once daily by mouth in the evening on days 1-3, 15 mg once daily by mouth in the evening on days 4-6, and 20 mg once daily by mouth in the evening on day 7 through the remainder of the study. On day 14, participants will complete a post-treatment fMRI scan. Participants will be treated for 14 days in total; however, due to scanner availability, the second scan may occur more than 14 days after the first scan. In this case, participants will be allowed to continue taking this dose for up to 14 additional days until the final scan occurs (28 days total).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Suvorexant

Intervention Type: DRUG

Subjects will titrate up to 20 mg of suvorexant daily. Subjects will follow a titration schedule with 10 mg once daily on days 1-3, 15 mg once daily on days 4-6, then 20 mg on day seven and for the remainder of the study. If participants report AEs (worsening depression/suicidal ideation, complex sleep behaviors, sleep paralysis, etc.) dose may be decreased to the previous dose taken. Participants will be treated for 14 days in total; however, due to scanner availability, the second scan may occur more than 14 days after the first scan. In this case, participants will be allowed to continue taking this dose for up to 14 additional days until the final scan occurs (28 days total).

Interventions

Suvorexant

Subjects will titrate up to 20 mg of suvorexant daily. Subjects will follow a titration schedule with 10 mg once daily on days 1-3, 15 mg once daily on days 4-6, then 20 mg on day seven and for the remainder of the study. If participants report AEs (worsening depression/suicidal ideation, complex sleep behaviors, sleep paralysis, etc.) dose may be decreased to the previous dose taken. Participants will be treated for 14 days in total; however, due to scanner availability, the second scan may occur more than 14 days after the first scan. In this case, participants will be allowed to continue taking this dose for up to 14 additional days until the final scan occurs (28 days total).

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18-60 years, inclusive
• Use cannabis daily or near daily and have been using cannabis consistently for at least the past year, by self-report
• Meet criteria for cannabis use disorder (CUDIT-R scores greater than or equal to 8)
• Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at the enrollment visit
• Be able to read, speak, and understand the English language. English can be a second language, provided that the subject understands all the questions used in the assessment measures.
• Access to a mobile device to complete daily surveys

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants cannot have an acutely unstable medical or psychiatric illness
• Medications with the potential to depress CNS function will be assessed by the PI or study physician and participants will be excluded as necessary
• Participants cannot have a history of major head trauma resulting in cognitive impairment, seizure, or other neurological disorders
• Presence of metallic foreign bodies such as cardiac pacemakers, perfusion pumps, aneurysm clips, metallic tattoos anywhere on the body, tattoos near the eye
• Individuals with severe hepatic impairment will be excluded
• Participants cannot be obese as determined by a Body Mass Index (BMI) or greater than 35
• Participants cannot be using a CYP3A inhibitor/inducer (metabolism by CYP3A is the major elimination pathway for suvorexant)
• Participants cannot have a current cardiac disorder such as palpitations, tachycardia, and/or the use of the cardiac medication Digoxin
• Participants cannot have narcolepsy
• Participants cannot self-report complex sleep behaviors such as sleep driving, preparing and eating food, or making phone calls
• Participants cannot be actively suicidal (current suicidal ideation with specific plan or intent) and/or report a suicide attempt or psychiatric hospitalization in the past year
• Participants cannot have a current substance use disorder based on a DSM-V diagnosis and MINI Interview for Substance Use Disorders other than nicotine and cannabis and cannot meet criteria for moderate or severe alcohol use disorder
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding: a negative pregnancy test is required at the enrollment visit
• In the opinion of the investigators, not able to complete study procedures or safely participate in the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Jodi Gilman

Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School; Director of Neuroscience, Center for Addiction Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Jodi M Gilman, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Massachusetts General Hospital

Locations

Center for Addiction Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Jodi M Gilman, PhD

Role: CONTACT

jgilman1@mgh.harvard.edu

617-643-7293

Julia Jashinski, MSW

Role: CONTACT

jjashinski@mgh.harvard.edu

617-643-1984

Facility Contacts

Jodi M Gilman, PhD

Role: primary

jgilman1@mgh.harvard.edu

617-643-7293

Other Identifiers

2024P002380

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id