Safety and Tolerability of Cannabidiol Among Persons With Opioid Use Disorder Receiving Methadone or Buprenorphine

Last updated: November 12, 2025
Sponsor: Yale University
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

1

Condition

Substance Abuse

Treatment

CBD Day 3

CBD Day 2

CBD Day 1

Clinical Study ID

NCT05076370
2000029286
1K23DA052682-01
  • Ages 18-70
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The overarching goal of this study is to evaluate the potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) as an adjunctive treatment for comorbid opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain. This is a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover human laboratory study investigating the dose-dependent safety and acute effects of CBD on measures of pain and opioid craving in outpatients with OUD receiving methadone or buprenorphine.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men and women aged between 18 and 70 years old.

  • Diagnosed with OUD and currently enrolled in methadone or buprenorphine maintenancetreatment.

  • Having chronic pain, uniformly operationalized as grade II (high-intensity) non-cancer pain for ≥ 6 months 49.

  • Capable of providing informed consent in English.

  • Compliant in opioid maintenance treatment and on a stable dose for four weeks orlonger.

  • Not meeting DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders other than OUD or tobacco usedisorder within the last 12 months.

  • No current medical problems deemed contraindicated for participation by principalinvestigator.

  • For women, not pregnant as determined by pregnancy screening; not breast-feeding;using acceptable birth control methods. Acceptable contraception for women includesoral contraceptives, contraceptive depot injections, contraceptive subdermalimplants, intrauterine devices, or surgical contraception methods. Acceptablecontraception for men includes condoms or surgical contraception methods.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Other current major psychiatric disorders deemed clinically unstable by theprincipal investigator, such as severe depression and/or active suicidal ideation.

  • Having experienced major psychosocial stressors recently (≤ 6 weeks beforeenrollment), at the discretion of the principal investigator.

  • Methadone dose under 60mg or over 100mg

  • Buprenorphine over 24mg.

  • Having received inpatient psychiatric treatment recently (≤ 60 days beforeenrollment).

  • Candidates receiving products containing either THC or CBD will be excluded.

  • Current use regular use other prescription opioids, gabapentinoids (pregabalin,gabapentin), antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs), benzodiazepines, plateletinhibitors (e.g., clopidogrel, apixaban, ticagrelor), or NSAIDs.

  • Current weight of less of 60 kg.

  • Allergy to sesame seed oil, which is an ingredient of the CBD formulation used.

  • Serious medical or neurological illness or treatment for a medical disorder thatcould interfere with study participation as determined by principal investigator.

  • Participants who have elevation of liver enzymes (ALT and/or AST) 2x above thenormal limit or higher.

Study Design

Total Participants: 7
Treatment Group(s): 3
Primary Treatment: CBD Day 3
Phase: 1
Study Start date:
December 08, 2021
Estimated Completion Date:
June 28, 2024

Study Description

An initial safety pilot phase will recruit six participants: three receiving treatment with methadone and three receiving treatment with buprenorphine. If the results of the pilot study support the safety of CBD administration in this clinical sample, the general study will recruit participants with comorbid OUD and chronic pain, with half the subjects receiving methadone and half receiving buprenorphine. Both sub-studies will enroll participants who do not currently require an inpatient hospitalization.

Connect with a study center

  • Veteran Affairs Hospital

    West Haven, Connecticut 06516
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Veteran Affairs Hospital

    West Haven 4845419, Connecticut 4831725 06516
    United States

    Site Not Available

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