In 2017, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine evaluated all the published literature through August, 2016 on the potential therapeutic uses of cannabinoids [24]. Promising candidates for treatment of CUD that prevent relapse include naltrexone, gabapentin, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (Mason et al. 2012; Brezing and Levin 2018). With CB1R agonists as potential treatments, it is necessary to consider the abuse potential of these drugs. The great interest in the promising profile of CBD for the management of SUD was revealed by the significant number of clinical studies published or currently underway.
Long-Term Effects
In another study, the effects of CBD (5, 20, or 80 mg/kg) were tested on mice given morphine before naloxone for precipitated quasi-morphine withdrawal syndrome. However, none of the CBD doses successfully in ameliorating the behavioral signs of withdrawal (Chesher and Jackson, 1985) (Table 1). While the currently available evidence converges to suggest that CBD could is cannabidiol addictive effectively reduce the rewarding and reinforcing effects of addictive drugs, more preclinical and clinical studies are needed before CBD can be added to the therapeutic arsenal for treating addiction. A 2015 review of available preclinical and clinical data found that CBD had therapeutic properties in the treatment of cocaine, opioid, and psychostimulant addiction.
- Another study, conducted in an experimental animal model, evaluated the effects of CBD on the reward-facilitating and brain reward function effect of morphine by using the intracranial self-stimulation (ICss) paradigm in rats.
- Clonazepam reduced blood pressure or heart rate, but CBD had no physical effects.
- For example, rodent and nonhuman primate models receiving periodic injections of glutamate receptor antagonists have shown a reduction in relapse rates (Caprioli et al. 2017).
- In contrast, higher doses (10–20 mg/kg) increased ICss thresholds, indicating that brain reward function is decreased by acute administration of CBD.
- While CBD may have potential benefits, it is important to remember that more research is needed to understand better the effects that cannabidiol may have and how it might best be used.
- In some people, and at high enough doses, CBD seems to help the brain use serotonin more effectively.
CBD and Opioidergic System
- In September last year, the TGA approved a cannabidiol-based medicine that can be prescribed to treat rare, but incredibly severe, drug-resistant forms of epilepsy that start in childhood.
- The search was restricted to English and French-language articles before 2015.
- In the United States, CBD products made from hemp with less than 0.3% THC are legal at the federal level.
This brain region contributes to interoceptive awareness of negative emotional states and is differentially activated during craving (Koob and Volkow 2016). This is also consistent with prior findings that the dopaminergic reward system is reactivated during acute craving episodes (Volkow et al. 1999b, 2005; Koob and Volkow 2016). Moreover, in cannabis abusers, but not in controls, acute THC intoxication elicited activation of brain reward regions as assessed by increases in brain glucose metabolism in striatum and orbitofrontal cortex (Volkow et al. 1996a). Overall, these studies demonstrates that chronic cannabis use sensitizes the mesocorticolimbic-reward system to cannabis cues and to THC (Volkow et al. 1996a; Filbey et al. 2016). These findings suggest that chronic cannabis use affects key brain circuits involved in the reward system similar to other drugs of abuse. The impacts of CBD on heroin SA and seeking behavior have been evaluated using an experimental rat model.
Is CBD considered a drug?
CBD is metabolized in the liver and the intestine by cytochrome P450 (CYP) CYP2C19 and CYP3A4, and 5′-diphosphoglucuronosyltransferase (UGT) UGT1A7, UGT1A9, and UGT2B7 isoforms, mainly producing hydroxylated and carboxylated metabolites [19]. CBD inhibited barbiturate metabolism, increasing barbiturate-induced sleep duration in mice, and also phenazone hepatic metabolism [20] due to the inhibition of CYP3A and CYP2C microsomal enzymes [21]. Other research suggested that CBD also induced hepatic CYP3A, CYP2B, and CYP2C [22]. The pharmacokinetic interaction between THC and CBD may explain why CBD administration prior to THC potentiates THC effects [23]. Scientists are beginning to understand how CBD prevents seizures without the sedating side effects of medications used previously.
Several studies in animals and humans demonstrated the absence of rewarding properties (Parker et al., 2004; Katsidoni et al., 2013; Babalonis et al., 2017; Schoedel et al., 2018). Indeed, recent studies carried out in mice in our laboratory further demonstrate that CBD is not an addictive substance. A range of CBD doses were evaluated in different animal models of addiction commonly used to assess the reinforcing and motivational properties of drugs (conditioned place preference (CPP) and oral self-administration (SA)). Also, withdrawal-related signs were analyzed after the abrupt cessation of CBD chronic administration. Interestingly, CBD did not induce CPP, oral SA or withdrawal-related signs, findings that suggested the lack of rewarding effects of CBD (Viudez-Martínez et al., 2019).
Familiarize yourself with labeling and independent testing processes to ensure that your chosen CBD product meets your specific needs and preferences. In the United States, CBD products https://ecosoberhouse.com/ made from hemp with less than 0.3% THC are legal at the federal level. In this article, we’ll dive into what makes CBD different and how it actually interacts with addiction mechanisms.
CBD Isn’t Addictive, But It Does Have Other Effects
