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

NCT06584942 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE4 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2026-01-20

No results posted yet for this study

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

Interventions

DRUG

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).

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Jodi M Gilman, PhD · Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-03-10
Primary Completion
2026-07-31
Completion
2026-07-31
FDA Drug
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06584942 on ClinicalTrials.gov