“The role of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors in the action of anxiolytics was examined. Deletion of CB(1) receptors resulted in increased anxiety-like behaviours… Our findings reveal that CB(1) receptors are involved in the regulation of emotional responses, and play a pivotal role in the action mechanism of anxiolytics. They suggest that alterations in the functional activity of the CB(1) receptor may be related to the emergence of anxiety disorders, and may affect treatment with anxiolytics.”
Effects of the cannabinoid receptor ligands on anxiety-related effects of d-amphetamine and nicotine in the mouse elevated plus maze test.
“The purpose of the experiments was to examine the anxiety-related effects of d-amphetamine and nicotine, and the possible involvement of the endocannabinoid system…
These results provide evidence that the endogenous cannabinoid system is involved in the anxiety-related responses to d-amphetamine and/or nicotine.”
Involvement of the opioid system in the anxiolytic-like effects induced by Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol.
Recent studies have shown that several pharmacological actions induced by cannabinoids, including antinociception and reward, involve the participation of the endogenous opioid system. The present study was designed to examine the possible involvement of the different opioid receptors in the anxiolytic-like responses induced by Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)…
The administration of a low dose of THC produced clear anxiolytic-like responses…
CONCLUSIONS:
These results demonstrate that the endogenous opioid system is involved in the regulation of anxiety-like behaviour by cannabinoids and provide new findings to clarify further the interaction between these two neuronal systems.”
[Benefits of an add-on treatment with the synthetic cannabinomimetic nabilone on patients with chronic pain–a randomized controlled trial].
“The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and efficiency of an add-on treatment with the synthetic cannabinomimetic nabilone on patients with chronic pain. Of major interest were the evaluation of the influence the treatment had on pain and on quality of life as well as the subjective assessment of positive effects and side effects by the study participants…
CONCLUSION:
In summary, the study results allow the conclusion that a majority of patients with chronic pain classify nabilone intake in addition to the standard treatment as a measure with a positive individual benefit-riskratio. Thus, this kind of treatment may be an interesting and attractive enrichment of analgetic therapy concepts.”
Adjunctive nabilone in cancer pain and symptom management: a prospective observational study using propensity scoring.
“A prospective observational study assessed the effectiveness of adjuvant nabilone (Cesamet) therapy in managing pain and symptoms experienced by advanced cancer patients… When compared with those not taking nabilone, patients using this cannabinoid had a lower rate of starting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, dexamethasone, metoclopramide, and ondansetron and a greater tendency to discontinue these drugs.”
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the potential of cannabinoid receptor stimulation in the treatment of dystonia.
“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.”
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.”
Single-dose study of nabilone in anxious volunteers.
“The effects of single oral doses of nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, were studied in eight anxious volunteer subjects. Each subject had two exposures to placebo and three dose levels of nabilone at one-week intervals in a single-blind balanced Latin-square design after the nabilone dose range was determined by each subject’s response to a test dose. Heart rate and blood pressure were monitored. The Profile of Mood States (POMS), a self-rating adjective checklist, was used as the quantitative measure of subjective effects. Four subjects performed a continuous avoidance procedure. High doses (4 or 5 mg) of nabilone produced orthostatic hypotension in these subjects. Mild dose-related increases in heart rate also occurred. Despite the occurrence of highly significant levels of sedation, there were no significant effects of nabilone on the continuous avoidance procedure. Two of these four subjects experienced an antianxiety effect from low (1 or 2 mg) nabilone doses. Four other subjects received comparatively lower doses of nabilone and performed on three behavioral tasks at intervals before and after drug: a recognition memory procedure, a task requiring spaced responding at a controlled rate, and a reaction time task. In these subjects there were no reliable effects on blood pressure or heart rate, no significant subjective effects on the POMS, and no antianxiety effects. Drug effects were also minimal on the three behavioral tasks.”
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.”
Nabilone for the treatment of paraneoplastic night sweats: a report of four cases.
“Night sweats are one of many symptoms experienced by patients with advanced cancer. Persistent night sweats tend to decrease quality of life through interference with sleep… night sweats represent one of the symptoms that displays a tendency not to improve as patients with advanced cancer approach end of life…
This paper serves to report on the successful management of four patients suffering from persistent paraneoplastic night sweats using the synthetic orally administered cannabinoid nabilone…”