[Pharmacology of cannabidiol: Red flags, consequences and risks in humans].
Joëlle Micallef, Anne Batisse, Bruno Revol
Therapie 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.therap.2022.02.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | CBD |
| Keywords | Addictovigilance Drug interaction Effets snc Interaction médicamenteuse Pharmacologie Pharmacology Snc effects |
| Key points | Argues that CBD is psychoactive rather than inert, acting on dopamine and serotonin receptors and producing effects such as sedation and drowsiness. It reports that human interactions between CBD and anti-epileptics, anticoagulants, immunosuppressants, and methadone have been highlighted, and cites an experimental study indicating that vaping CBD can generate THC-containing products through pyrolysis, with possible clinical and driving-related consequences. |
Abstract
Scientific knowledge about cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates that CBD is a substance that is not pharmacologically inert. If it does not act efficiently on cannabinoid receptors (those where tetrahydrocannabidol [THC] is fixed), it acts on brain receptors, especially on dopamine and serotonin receptors, making it a psychoactive product in its own right. Its consumption can thus have psychoactive effects, such as sedation and drowsiness for example. In humans, interactions between CBD and drugs such as anti-epileptics, anticoagulants, immunosuppressants or methadone, have been highlighted. Therefore, the drug treatment of patients with chronic diseases may be impacted because of the unknown interaction with CBD. In addition, a recent experimental study has shown that the use of CBD by vaping (e-cigarette) generated by pyrolysis, products containing THC; it could result in possible negative health consequences for the user in terms of clinical effects and/or collateral effects (including on driving). Finally, therapeutic claims (outside of authorized drugs) that are purely speculative at this stage may divert users from proven management (stopping their drug treatment in favor of CBD or "self-medication"). All these data underline the importance of implementing measures related to the accessibility of CBD in order to avoid public health consequences and to better protect the users.