“Cannabis may have medicinal uses in a variety of diseases. The neural mechanisms underlying dystonia involve abnormalities within the basal ganglia-in particular, overactivity of the lateral globus pallidus (GPl). Cannabinoid receptors are located presynaptically on GABA terminals within the GPi, where their activation reduces GABA reuptake. Cannabinoid receptor stimulation may thus reduce overactivity of the GPl and thereby reduce dystonia. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover study using the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist nabilone in patients with generalised and segmental primary dystonia showed no significant reduction in dystonia following treatment with nabilone.”
Tag Archives: treatment
The efficacy and safety of nabilone (a synthetic cannabinoid) in the treatment of anxiety.
“The anxiolytic properties of nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid resembling the natural cannabinoids, were studied in 25 outpatients suffering from anxiety. The drug was compared with a placebo in a double-blind manner over a 28-day treatment period. Patients were seen weekly by the physician and were rated by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and the Patient’s Global Evaluation as well as by patient-rated evaluations. The results of the study showed a dramatic improvement in anxiety in the nabilone group when compared with placebo (P less than 0.001). Side effects reported were dry mouth, dry eyes, and drowsiness. Patients did not report any of the subjective “altered state” experience of marihuana.”
Experience with the synthetic cannabinoid nabilone in chronic noncancer pain.
“Chronic noncancer pain includes a heterogeneous group of disorders and is often refractory to treatment. Cannabis products have historically been used for chronic pain and are attracting renewed pharmaceutical interest. Nabilone is a synthetic cannabinoid licensed in Canada for the treatment of severe nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy. We have used nabilone off-label for the treatment of chronic noncancer pain since 1999. In this article, we review our clinical experience of 20 adult patients with chronic noncancer pain who had been treated with nabilone and followed up for an average of 1.5 years. Prior to nabilone therapy, patients had used a wide range of therapies, including 11 who had used cannabis. Fifteen patients reported subjective overall improvement with nabilone, and nine reported reduced pain intensity. Beneficial effects on sleep and nausea were the main reasons for continuing use. Intolerable side effects were experienced in three patients (palpitations, urinary retention, dry mouth). Nabilone may be a useful addition to pain management and should be further evaluated in randomized controlled trials.”
The cannabinoid CB1 receptor is involved in the anxiolytic, sedative and amnesic actions of benzodiazepines.
“Previous studies in our laboratory showed that cannabinoid CB1 receptor knockout mice (CB1-/-) presented increased anxiety-like behaviours that did not respond to the anxiolytic actions of benzodiazepines. These results suggest that the pharmacological effects of benzodiazepines may involve the participation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of alprazolam and the cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist…
Taken together, these findings revealed that cannabinoid CB1 receptor plays a pivotal role in the pharmacological actions of benzodiazepines. Furthermore, these results suggest that blockade of cannabinoid CB1 receptors may be useful in the treatment of patients with problems related to the consumption of benzodiazepines. Further clinical trials are needed to test this hypothesis.”
Cannabinoid-1 receptor: a novel target for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
“G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-mediated signalling is the most widely used signalling mechanism in cells, and its regulation is important for various physiological functions. The cannabinoid-1 (CB(1)) receptor, a GPCR, has been shown to play a critical role in neural circuitries mediating motivation, mood and emotional behaviours.
Several recent studies have indicated that impairment of CB(1) receptor-mediated signalling may play a critical role in the pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric disorders. In this article, the authors briefly review literature relating to the role played by the endocannabinoid system in various neuropsychiatric disorders, and the CB(1) receptor as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of alcoholism, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.”
5-HT1A receptors are involved in the cannabidiol-induced attenuation of behavioural and cardiovascular responses to acute restraint stress in rats.
“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic compound from Cannabis sativa which induces anxiolytic- and antipsychotic-like effects in rodents. These effects could be mediated by facilitation of the endocannabinoid system or by the activation of 5-HT(1A) receptors. As either of these mechanisms could promote adaptation to inescapable stress, the aim of the present work was to test the hypothesis that CBD would attenuate the autonomic and behavioural consequences of restraint stress (RS). We also investigated if the responses to CBD depended on activation of 5-HT(1A) receptors.
Cannabidiol (CBD)… cannabinoid generally found in relatively high concentrations in cannabis, exhibits a somewhat different pharmacology compared with THC. CBD attenuates the psychotomimetic and anxiogenic effects of THC in humans.
Moreover, systemic administration of CBD induced antipsychotic and anxiolytic-like effects…
CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS:
The results suggest that CBD can attenuate acute autonomic responses to stress and its delayed emotional consequences by facilitating 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated neurotransmission.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2697769/
Cannabidiol blocks long-lasting behavioral consequences of predator threat stress: possible involvement of 5HT1A receptors.
“Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an incapacitating syndrome that follows a traumatic experience. Predator exposure promotes long-lasting anxiogenic effect in rodents, an effect related to symptoms found in PTSD patients. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotomimetic component of Cannabis sativa with anxiolytic effects. The present study investigated the anti-anxiety actions of CBD administration in a model of PTSD…
Repeated administration of CBD prevented long-lasting anxiogenic effects promoted by a single predator exposure…
In conclusion, predator exposure promotes long-lasting up-regulation of 5HT1A receptor gene expression in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. Repeated CBD administration prevents the long-lasting anxiogenic effects observed after predator exposure probably by facilitating 5HT1A receptors neurotransmission.
Our results suggest that CBD has beneficial potential for PTSD treatment and that 5HT1A receptors could be a therapeutic target in this disorder.”
Differential role of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in memory and anxiety-like responses.
“Cannabinoid agonists are potential therapeutic agents because of their antinociceptive and anxiolytic-like effects…
These results dissociate the role of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol in memory consolidation and anxiety and reveal the interest of cannabinoid receptor 2 as a novel target for the treatment of anxiety-related disorders.”
GABAergic and endocannabinoid dysfunction in anxiety – future therapeutic targets?
“With a lifetime prevalence of up to 25% anxiety disorders are among the most frequently occurring psychiatric disorders. The etiology of anxiety is considered to be multifactorial with an interaction of neurobiological, psychological and environmental factors. With regard to neurobiological factors, several neurochemical systems and neuroanatomical circuits have been discussed to be involved. In particular, anxiety might be a result of insufficient inhibitory control, pointing towards a major role of the gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) system in these disorders. Preclinical and clinical studies discuss a decreased GABAergic inhibition in anxiety and patients with anxiety disorders. In view of these findings it is intriguing that benzodiazepines, which currently represent the most potent and powerful anxiolytic agents, act through an enhancement of GABAergic inhibition targeting the GABAA receptor. Thus, it has been suggested that the GABAergic system might represent a promising future target for new pharmacologic strategies for the treatment of anxiety. Closely linked to the GABAergic system is the endocannabinoid system, which might also play an important role in this group of disorders. The endocannabinoid system has particularly been involved in extinction learning, suggesting a key role of this system in the process of fear extinction. In this paper, both the GABAergic and the endocannabinoid system will be reviewed with regard to their role in anxiety and anxiety disorders in humans with particular attention to findings from genetic and neuroimaging studies. Moreover, both systems will be discussed as potential therapeutic targets.”
Alzheimer’s Disease
“Alzheimer’s disease (AD), also called Alzheimer disease, senile dementia of the Alzheimer type, primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer’s type, or simply Alzheimer’s, is the most common form of dementia. This incurable, degenerative, and terminal disease was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Most often, it is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer’s can occur much earlier. In 2006, there were 26.6 million sufferers worldwide. Alzheimer’s is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050.
Although the course of Alzheimer’s disease is unique for every individual, there are many common symptoms. The earliest observable symptoms are often mistakenly thought to be ‘age-related’ concerns, or manifestations of stress. In the early stages, the most common symptom is inability to acquire new memories, observed as difficulty in recalling recently observed events. When AD is suspected, the diagnosis is usually confirmed with behavioral assessments and cognitive tests, often followed by a brain scan if available.
As the disease advances, symptoms include confusion, irritability and aggression, mood swings, language breakdown, long-term memory loss, and the general withdrawal of the sufferer as their senses decline. Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death. Individual prognosis is difficult to assess, as the duration of the disease varies. AD develops for an indeterminate period of time before becoming fully apparent, and it can progress undiagnosed for years. The mean life expectancy following diagnosis is approximately seven years. Fewer than three percent of individuals live more than fourteen years after diagnosis.
The cause and progression of Alzheimer’s disease are not well understood. Research indicates that the disease is associated with plaques and tangles in the brain. Currently used treatments offer a small symptomatic benefit; no treatments to delay or halt the progression of the disease are, as of yet, available. As of 2008, more than 500 clinical trials have been conducted for identification of a possible treatment for AD, but it is unknown if any of the tested intervention strategies will show promising results. A number of non-invasive, life-style habits have been suggested for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, but there is a lack of adequate evidence for a link between these recommendations and reduced degeneration. Mental stimulation, exercise, and a balanced diet are suggested, as both a possible prevention and a sensible way of managing the disease.”
Video: http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com/index.php/alzheimer-s-disease