Abstract
Rationale: Animal and humans studies suggest that the two main constituents of cannabis sativa, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have quite different acute effects. However, to date the two compounds have largely been studied separately.
Objective: To evaluate and compare the acute pharmacological effects of both THC and CBD in the same human volunteers.
Methods: A randomised, double-blind, cross-over, placebo controlled trial was conducted in 16 healthy male subjects. Oral THC 10 mg or CBD 600 mg or placebo was administered in three consecutive sessions, at one-month interval. Physiological measures and symptom ratings were assessed before, and at 1, 2 and 3 hours post drug administration. The area under the curve (AUC) between baseline and 3 hours, and the maximum absolute change from baseline at 2 hours were analysed by one-way repeated measures analysis of variance, with drug condition (THC or CBD or placebo) as the factor.
Results: Relative to both placebo and CBD, administration of THC was associated with anxiety, dysphoria, positive psychotic symptoms, physical and mental sedation, subjective intoxication (AUC and effect at 2 hours: p<0.01), an increase in heart rate (p<0.05). There were no differences between CBD and placebo on any symptomatic, physiological variable.
Conclusions: In healthy volunteers, THC has marked acute behavioural and physiological effects, whereas CBD has proven to be safe and well tolerated.
Keywords: Cannabis, Δ-9-THC-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, unique dose, pharmacological acute effects, humans, induced anxiety, induced psychosis, review, placebo controlled trial.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Acute Effects of a Single, Oral dose of d9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) Administration in Healthy Volunteers
Volume: 18 Issue: 32
Author(s): R. Martin-Santos, J. A. Crippa, A. Batalla, S. Bhattacharyya, Z. Atakan, S. Borgwardt, P. Allen, M. Seal, K. Langohr, M. Farre, AW. Zuardi and P. K. McGuire
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cannabis, Δ-9-THC-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, unique dose, pharmacological acute effects, humans, induced anxiety, induced psychosis, review, placebo controlled trial.
Abstract: Rationale: Animal and humans studies suggest that the two main constituents of cannabis sativa, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have quite different acute effects. However, to date the two compounds have largely been studied separately.
Objective: To evaluate and compare the acute pharmacological effects of both THC and CBD in the same human volunteers.
Methods: A randomised, double-blind, cross-over, placebo controlled trial was conducted in 16 healthy male subjects. Oral THC 10 mg or CBD 600 mg or placebo was administered in three consecutive sessions, at one-month interval. Physiological measures and symptom ratings were assessed before, and at 1, 2 and 3 hours post drug administration. The area under the curve (AUC) between baseline and 3 hours, and the maximum absolute change from baseline at 2 hours were analysed by one-way repeated measures analysis of variance, with drug condition (THC or CBD or placebo) as the factor.
Results: Relative to both placebo and CBD, administration of THC was associated with anxiety, dysphoria, positive psychotic symptoms, physical and mental sedation, subjective intoxication (AUC and effect at 2 hours: p<0.01), an increase in heart rate (p<0.05). There were no differences between CBD and placebo on any symptomatic, physiological variable.
Conclusions: In healthy volunteers, THC has marked acute behavioural and physiological effects, whereas CBD has proven to be safe and well tolerated.
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Cite this article as:
Martin-Santos R., A. Crippa J., Batalla A., Bhattacharyya S., Atakan Z., Borgwardt S., Allen P., Seal M., Langohr K., Farre M., Zuardi AW. and K. McGuire P., Acute Effects of a Single, Oral dose of d9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) Administration in Healthy Volunteers, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18(32) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212802884780
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212802884780 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |

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