Pharmacological interventions in the treatment of the acute effects of cannabis: a systematic review of literature

Harm Reduction Journal

Jaime EC Hallak²  Antonio W Zuardi²  Rocio Martín-Santos¹  Zerrin Atakan³  Marcos HN Chagas²  Guilherme N Derenusson²  José AS Crippa² 

[1] Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain and INCT Translational Medicine (CNPq), Brazil;Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo and INCT Translational Medicine (CNPq), Brazil;Section of Neuroimaging, Box PO67, Division of Psychological Medicine & Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK

关键词: pharmacological treatment;    anxiety;    psychosis;    acute effects;    intoxication;    cannabis;   

Others  :  810052
DOI  :  10.1186/1477-7517-9-7

 received in 2010-03-17, accepted in 2012-01-25,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Cannabis intoxication is related to a number of physical and mental health risks with ensuing social costs. However, little attention has been given to the investigation of possible pharmacological interactions in this condition.

Objective

To review the available scientific literature concerning pharmacological interventions for the treatment of the acute effects of cannabis.

Methods

A search was performed on the Pubmed, Lilacs, and Scielo online databases by combining the terms cannabis, intoxication, psychosis, anxiety, and treatment. The articles selected from this search had their reference lists checked for additional publications related to the topic of the review.

Results

The reviewed articles consisted of case reports and controlled clinical trials and are presented according to interventions targeting the physiological, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms provoked by cannabis. The pharmacological interventions reported in these studies include: beta-blockers, antiarrhythmic agents, antagonists of CB-1 and GABA-benzodiazepine receptors, antipsychotics, and cannabidiol.

Conclusion

Although scarce, the evidence on pharmacological interventions for the management of cannabis intoxication suggests that propanolol and rimonabant are the most effective compounds currently available to treat the physiological and subjective effects of the drug. Further studies are necessary to establish the real effectiveness of these two medications, as well as the effectiveness of other candidate compounds to counteract the effects of cannabis intoxication, such as cannabidiol and flumazenil.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Crippa et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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