Title:Evidences for the Anti-panic Actions of Cannabidiol
VOLUME: 15 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Vanessa P. Soares and Alline C. Campos
Affiliation:Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, 3900 Bandeirantes avenue, Ribeirao Preto-SP
Keywords:Animal models, cannabidiol, human studies, 5-HT1A receptors, panic disorder, serotonin.
Abstract:Background: Panic disorder (PD) is a disabling psychiatry condition that affects
approximately 5% of the worldwide population. Currently, long-term selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line treatment for PD; however, the common side-effect profiles and drug
interactions may provoke patients to abandon the treatment, leading to PD symptoms relapse.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the major non-psychotomimetic constituent of the Cannabis sativa plant with antianxiety
properties that has been suggested as an alternative for treating anxiety disorders. The aim of the
present review was to discuss the effects and mechanisms involved in the putative anti-panic effects of
CBD.
Methods: electronic database was used as source of the studies selected selected based on the studies
found by crossing the following keywords: cannabidiol and panic disorder; canabidiol and anxiety,
cannabidiol and 5-HT1A receptor).
Results: In the present review, we included both experimental laboratory animal and human studies that
have investigated the putative anti-panic properties of CBD. Taken together, the studies assessed clearly
suggest an anxiolytic-like effect of CBD in both animal models and healthy volunteers.
Conclusions: CBD seems to be a promising drug for the treatment of PD. However, novel clinical trials
involving patients with the PD diagnosis are clearly needed to clarify the specific mechanism of action of
CBD and the safe and ideal therapeutic doses of this compound.
