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When, if ever, do you consider using dronabinol to treat agitation in dementia?

How do you approach informed consent when prescribing dronabinol in patients with dementia? Are there any particular risks or adverse effects that you emphasize? Are there specific medical comorbidities that would lead you to avoid dronabinol?
2 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Psychiatry · McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Answered on

Dronabinol should be considered for treating agitation in dementia when non-pharmacological interventions and standard pharmacological options, such as antidepressants or antipsychotics, have failed or are poorly tolerated.

I have a handful of patients in my practice who fit that scenario and benefi...

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Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Psychiatry · University of Colorado
Answered on

Agreed!

Including a common framework, I suggest that physicians and providers tackling cannabis conversations with their patients:

  1. Identify your patient's psychiatric and medical co-morbidities, potential drug-drug interactions, and the evidence base for therapeutic benefit versus harm of cannabis us...

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