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Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by δ9-THC in normal subjects

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Abstract

The object of the experiment was to verify whether cannabidiol (CBD) reduces the anxiety provoked by Δ 9-TCH in normal volunteers, and whether this effect occurs by a general block of the action of Δ 9-TCH or by a specific anxiolytic effect. Appropriate measurements and scales were utilized and the eight volunteers received, the following treatments in a double-blind procedure: 0.5 mg/kg Δ 9-TCH, 1 mg/kg CBD, a mixture containing 0.5 mg/kg Δ 9-TCH and 1 mg/kg CBD and placebo and diazepam (10 mg) as controls. Each volunteer received the treatments in a different sequence. It was verified that CBD blocks the anxiety provoked by Δ 9-TCH, however this effect also extended to marihuanalike effects and to other subjective alterations induced by Δ 9-TCH. This antagonism does not appear to be caused by a general block of Δ 9-TCH effects, since no change was detected in the pulse-rate measurements. Several further effects were observed typical of CBD and of an opposite nature to those of Δ 9-TCH.

These results suggest that the effects of CBD, as opposed to those of Δ 9-TCH, might be involved in the antagonism of effects between the two cannabinoids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Psicobiologia da Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua José Theodoro de Lima, 44, 13.100, Campinas, SP, Brasil

    A. W. Zuardi, I. Shirakawa, E. Finkelfarb & I. G. Karniol

  2. Departamento de Psicologia Médica e Psiquiatria da-FCM-UNICAMP, Rua José Theodoro de Lima, 44, 13.100, Campinas, SP, Brasil

    A. W. Zuardi, I. Shirakawa, E. Finkelfarb & I. G. Karniol

Authors
  1. A. W. Zuardi
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  2. I. Shirakawa
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  3. E. Finkelfarb
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  4. I. G. Karniol
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With a fellowship from Capes

from CNPq

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Zuardi, A.W., Shirakawa, I., Finkelfarb, E. et al. Action of cannabidiol on the anxiety and other effects produced by δ9-THC in normal subjects. Psychopharmacology 76, 245–250 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432554

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00432554

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