Effects of dronabinol on anorexia and disturbed behavior in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Investigated effects of dronabinol in patients with a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease who were refusing food, using a placebo-controlled crossover design, with each treatment period lasting 6 wks. 11 Ss, aged 65–82 yrs, completed both the placebo and the drug periods; 1 patient who died of a heart attack 2 wks before the end of the study was also included in the analysis. Findings show that body weight of study Ss increased more during the dronabinol treatment than during the placebo periods. Dronabinol treatment decreased severity of disturbed behavior and this effect persisted during the placebo period in patients who received dronabinol first. Adverse reactions observed more commonly during the dronabinol treatment than during placebo periods included euphoria, somnolence and tiredness, but did not require discontinuation of therapy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)