Erowid
 
 
Plants - Drugs Mind - Spirit Freedom - Law Arts - Culture Library  
Erowid References Database
Leweke FM, Piomelli D, Pahlisch F, Muhl D, Gerth CW, Hoyer C, Klosterkötter J, Hellmich M, Koethe D. 
“Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia”. 
Transl Psychiatry. 2012 Feb 26;2:e94.
Texts
  • Abstract (this page)
  • Full Text - English (962 K)
  • External Text
    • Show Articles by
  • Leweke FM
  • Piomelli D
  • Pahlisch F
  • Muhl D
  • Gerth CW
  • Hoyer C
  • Klosterkötter J
  • Hellmich M
  • Koethe D
    • Article IDs
  • Erowid RefID: 8601
  • PubMedID: 22832859
    • Collections
  • Hofmann Collection
  • MDMA Collection
  • All References


    		•
    Abstract
    Cannabidiol is a component of marijuana that does not activate cannabinoid receptors, but moderately inhibits the degradation of the endocannabinoid anandamide. We previously reported that an elevation of anandamide levels in cerebrospinal fluid inversely correlated to psychotic symptoms. Furthermore, enhanced anandamide signaling let to a lower transition rate from initial prodromal states into frank psychosis as well as postponed transition. In our translational approach, we performed a double-blind, randomized clinical trial of cannabidiol vs amisulpride, a potent antipsychotic, in acute schizophrenia to evaluate the clinical relevance of our initial findings. Either treatment was safe and led to significant clinical improvement, but cannabidiol displayed a markedly superior side-effect profile. Moreover, cannabidiol treatment was accompanied by a significant increase in serum anandamide levels, which was significantly associated with clinical improvement. The results suggest that inhibition of anandamide deactivation may contribute to the antipsychotic effects of cannabidiol potentially representing a completely new mechanism in the treatment of schizophrenia.
    Comments and Responses to this Article
    #
    Status: display
    earth
    Aug 10, 2012 17:52
    Time Story #
    Time's Healthland published a piece by Maia Szalavitz on May 30, 2012, describing this research. She writes:

    A compound found in marijuana can treat schizophrenia as effectively as antipsychotic medications, with far fewer side effects, according to a preliminary clinical trial. [...]

    “The results were amazing,” says Daniel Piomelli, professor of pharmacology at the University of California-Irvine and a co-author of the study. “Not only was [CBD] as effective as standard antipsychotics, but it was also essentially free of the typical side effects seen with antipsychotic drugs.”

    Antipsychotic medications can potentially cause devastating and sometimes permanent movement disorders; they can also reduce users’ motivation and pleasure. The new generation of antipsychotic drugs also often leads to weight gain and can increase diabetes risk. These side effects have long been known to be a major obstacle to treatment.


    Submit Comment
    [ Cite HTML ]