Appetite stimulation and reduction of weight loss in patients suffering from symptomatic hiv infection

Abstract

Patients with symptomatic HIV infection, including AIDS and ARC are treated to increase appetite and to cause a reduction in loss of weight. The delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol may be administered orally, in capsules, or in tablets, or by injection, suppository, intranasal, transdermal, inhalant or sublingual administration.

1 . A method of treating a human patient with symptomatic HIV infection to stimulate weight gain in the patient, the method comprising orally administering to the patient a pharmaceutical composition comprising dronabinol, wherein the dronabinol is present in the composition in a total amount of about 2.5 mg to about 20 mg.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human patient is male.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weight gain comprises an weight change of approximately 1.5 lbs/week.  
   
   
       4 . A method of treating a human patient with symptomatic HIV infection to stimulate weight gain in the patient comprising: 
 providing to the patient delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in a dosing regimen optimized to minimize side effects.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the weight gain comprises a weight change of approximately 1.5 lbs/week.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the side effects comprise nausea.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the side effects comprise CNS effects.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the human patient is male.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human patient is on antiviral therapy.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the anti-viral therapy comprises azidothymidine.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the anti-viral therapy comprises megesterol acetate.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human patient had received anti-viral therapy.  
   
   
       13 . A method of treating a human patient to stimulate weight gain comprising: 
 administering to the patient an effective amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.    
   
   
       14 . A method of treating a human patient with symptomatic HIV infection to stimulate weight gain in the patient comprising: 
 administering to the patient an appetite-stimulating effective amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in conjunction with at least one additional medication.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said additional medication comprises an antiviral therapy.  
   
   
       16 . A method of treating an HIV human patient comprising: 
 administering an effective amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.