Study finds that, for patients already taking antidepressants, activating and/or prohibiting the CB1 receptor in the brain might make those antidepressants more effective.
Cannabinoid receptors, located throughout the body, are involved in a variety of physiological processes (including appetite, mood, etc.). A 2019 study shows that blocking CB1Rs (cannabinoid receptors that conserve energy) is an effective way to manage metabolic disorders, such as obesity and Type-2 Diabetes.
It was a privilege to meet with the editor of Wiley Publishing Company’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Weekly, Dr Peter Grinspoon, and a select group of MA dispensary representatives this weekend, to discuss our shared goals & plan to support global access to education, of physicians, the #MedicalCommunity, the #CannabisIndustry, and the #CannabisCommunity.
Benjamin Caplan, MDDr Caplan & Dr Grinspoon meet with Wiley’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Weekly
In a study that excluded cannabis users, researchers found that alcohol hangovers significantly impair both executive function (paying attention, regulating emotions, etc.) and prospective memory (remembering future plans).
Preferences for Medical Marijuana over Prescription Medications Among Persons Living with Chronic Conditions: Alternative, Complementary, and Tapering Uses
In a survey of 30 patients using medical cannabis for a range of illnesses, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, cancer, Hepatitis C, PTSD, and more, patients reported an array of benefits from their cannabis use. Patients successfully used cannabis as an alternative to prescription medication, as a complementary agent with traditional prescription medicines, and to gradually help halt the use of some prescription medications. Benefits described by participants included the effects of cannabis lasting longer than that of opioids, lower risk of addiction, fewer side-effects. Patients also saw their sleep, anxiety, appetite, and adverse reactions improve with the use of medical cannabis. Larger, more controlled studies may suggest cannabis more affirmatively as an alternative or complementary therapy with prescription medications.
Overlaps in pharmacology for the treatment of chronic pain and mental health disorders
Select small trials have demonstrated cannabis to be more effective than other analgesics to treat chronic pain associated with certain conditions. However, the existing research lacks large-scale, controlled experiments relating medical cannabis use to pain management. Additionally, negative effects are documented with respect to cannabis use among adolescents and those suffering from compromised mental health. There is a need for further research on the topic.
Medical Cannabis and the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Statement
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder causing episodic airway obstruction that results in the brief “apneic” (cessation of breathing) episodes for brief periods of time. A recent study investigating Dronabinol, a synthetic cannabis derivative, as a potential therapy for sleep apnea resulted in an improvement of 32% in the apnea-hypopnea index. However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine does not endorse medical cannabis as a treatment for sleep apnea, due to what they point to as a lack of knowledge surrounding the long-term effects of its use. ” Based on these results, cannabis and its components should be further researched to determine its potential for sleep apnea treatment.
Guanfacine decreases symptoms of cannabis withdrawal in daily cannabis smokers
A study performed on daily cannabis users with cannabis use disorder (CUD) found evidence for Guanfacine to reduce the irritability and disturbances to sleep, characteristic of cannabis withdrawal. It is potentially a viable, improved alternative to Lofexidine, another treatment for CUD which happens to result in some adverse effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, and altered food intake. However, beyond these effects, while Lofexidine reduced cannabis self-administration following abstinence, Guanfacine did not in this study. Regardless, further research on the therapeutic effects of Guanfacine may be worthwhile and could help reduce cannabis cravings following withdrawal.