Using Cannabidiol to Help Patients Stop Drinking Alcohol

Cannabidiol as an add-on Treatment During Inpatient Alcohol Cessation in Patients With Severe Alcohol Use Disorder: A Phase II Trial

Phase 2 Interventional Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris · NCT05860699

This study is testing if cannabidiol (CBD) can help people in detox from alcohol stay sober and feel better during their recovery.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment210 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 75 Years
SexAll
SponsorAssistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris Academic / other
Locations12 sites (Créteil, Albert Chenevier and 11 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05860699 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of cannabidiol (CBD) as an additional treatment for patients undergoing inpatient detoxification for severe alcohol use disorder. Over a period of 10 days, participants will receive either CBD or a placebo while receiving standard care, with the aim of improving abstinence rates and reducing withdrawal symptoms. The study also assesses the safety of CBD and its potential effects on anxiety and alcohol cravings. Participants will be monitored for side effects and drinking behavior during and after the treatment period.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18-75 who are hospitalized for alcohol detoxification and meet the criteria for severe alcohol use disorder.

Not a fit: Patients with unstable medical or psychiatric conditions or those scheduled for long-term residential care after detoxification may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve the outcomes for patients struggling with severe alcohol use disorder during detoxification.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of CBD in treating alcohol use disorder is a relatively novel approach, preliminary studies suggest potential benefits, though more research is needed to confirm efficacy.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients hospitalized for a scheduled alcohol inpatient cessation
* Aged 18-75 years old

  * Meeting DSM 5 criteria for severe AUD
  * Willing to participate
  * Signing a written informed consent
  * Patients with current social insurance
  * For childbearing age, sexually active females: efficacious contraceptive method during treatment and up to seven days after treatment administration

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Patients already scheduled for long term residential care after acute alcohol inpatient detoxification, not able to maintain the outpatient follow up

  * Patients not willing to attend post-discharge visits whatever the reason
  * Any unstable medical condition at entry, such as delirium, acute hepatic failure, hypokalaemia, liver cirrhosis whatever the stage, acute or chronic severe renal failure or any acute psychiatric condition
  * Liver enzymes (ALT and/or AST) above 3 times the upper limit of normal and/or bilirubin above 2 times the upper limit of normal
  * Current medication or need for medication with treatments metabolized by CYP 2C19 or CYP3A4 or UGT enzymes and having strong inhibitor/inducer properties (see list above), and/or current medication or need for medications containing valproate and derivates
  * Any medical history of epileptic seizure
  * Patients with current or past history of cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction and stroke
  * Any history of suicidal attempt in the past 5 years or a score ≥1 to the Suicidal Ideation Attributes Scale (SIDAS)
  * To facilitate efficacy data interpretation, patients currently receiving or wanting to receive another approved pharmacological treatment aimed at alcohol abstinence maintenance (acamprosate, baclofene, disulfiram, nalmefene, naltrexone).
  * Other major current DSM 5 severe substance use disorder (like opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, ...) except for tobacco, cannabis smoking and benzodiazepines use disorders
  * Pregnancy and breast feeding
  * Known hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients (including PEG)
  * Patients under guardianship
  * Patients in exclusion periods of other trials
  * Reversely, cannabis use or cannabis use disorders will not be an exclusion criteria

Where this trial is running

Créteil, Albert Chenevier and 11 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Severe Alcohol Use DisorderAlcohol use disorderCBDInpatient
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.