Pharmacological interventions in the treatment of the acute effects of cannabis: a systematic review of literature
Open accessAbstract
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.
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There is no approved pharmacological therapy for the treatment of disorders related to the use of cannabis today.
“There is no approved pharmacological therapy for the treatment of disorders related to the use of cannabis today (142).”
From Translational investigation of the therapeutic potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a new age (2018) · cites this paper as [142]
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Translational investigation of the therapeutic potential of Cannabidiol (CBD): Toward a new age
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- Authors
- Crippa, J. A., Derenusson, G. N., Chagas, M. H., Atakan, Z., Martín-Santos, R., Zuardi, A. W., & Hallak, J. E.
- Affiliations
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (BR)
- King's College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Crippa, José AS
- Venue
- Harm Reduction Journal
- Published
- 2012
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 7
- ISSN
- 1477-7517 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3294246
- OpenAlex
- W2103561274
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 0.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Harm Reduction Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT) (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Poisoning and overdose treatments
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Keywords
- cannabis intoxication, acute cannabis effects, pharmacological interventions, beta-blockers, propranolol, rimonabant, CB1 receptor antagonist, flumazenil, antipsychotic drugs, cannabidiol, cannabis-induced psychosis
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