High doses of CBD reduce methamphetamine appetite (Study)
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Recent observations of high doses of non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) in methamphetamine- dependent mice revealed that CBD may be able to reduce drug dependence and motivation
The study was published specifically in the official scientific journal " Journal of Psychopharmacology ” and provides brand new evidence of the effectiveness of CBD in inhibiting the taste of a well-known and highly problematic drug - methamphetamine , more specifically methamphetamine .
Early results suggest the scientist concludes that there will be cannabis cannabidiol quite possibly able to help in the treatment of addicted patients trying to get rid of the "monkey on the neck", which can be bred by taking methamphetamine, one of the most common drugs in the world.
" Therapeutic cannabis has been shown in many preliminary studies as a plant containing substances capable of helping to treat a variety of psychological disorders, including dependence on opiates and stimulants." Jennifer Cornish
“One of the main focus of my laboratory is to gain a deeper understanding of the neurobiological effects of methamphetamine dependence, which will help us find the most effective therapeutic help and alleviate one of the heavy burdens of today's society. Cannabinoids derived from cannabis plants have long been shown to be effective therapeutic aids against various types of mental disorders and their symptoms. The vast majority are preclinical results, but the hope for their use in addiction treatment and relapse prevention is very clear for both opiate and stimulant addiction, ”explains study leader Jennifer Cornish , a Macquaire University student. .
"Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant that acts on certain brain areas coinciding with the effects of cannabidiol. The logical step for us was to properly observe how CBD is not able to influence the behavior of mice that are trained to throw for regular doses of intravenously administered methamphetamine , which they receive after pressing one of the levers in the experimental space. We are trying to find out whether it is possible to use CBD to reduce the response of the brain's reward system in the case of an already developed meth addiction. "
The researchers found that mice given 80 mg of CBD per kilogram of body weight showed a markedly lower motivation to take the drug repeatedly. However, an important finding is also the fact that mice under the influence of a dose of less than 40 mg / kg did not show any improvement in fitness and continued to go for the addictive substance. "
CBD works in various ways - "Further studies are needed ..."
CBD continues to be a very broad but also very complex substance . This was also evident during this study - when compared to regular dose-dependent mice sugar, these were completely different results. Because the "confectioner" mice did not show any marked changes in the motivation to continue taking sugar, the researchers concluded that CBD is highly selective and narrowly focused in its effects on brain centers. It is therefore not a substance that would be able to affect the reward system of the brain from an overall point of view.
"I think it is necessary to realize both from the point of view of patients and scientists that cannabis is a plant containing both psychoactive substances , but also many others that do not seem to affect perception (such as CBD). However, each of these substances may have different therapeutic properties that can be used in different medical fields, ”explains Cornish in an interview with PsyPost magazine.
“This study clearly showed us the potential of CBD and its action against addiction to stimulants such as the well-known meth. Despite the fact that in the preliminary tests of CBD it proved to be able to suppress the frequency of relapses and the overall motivation to take the drug, we still have a large number of thorough studies in human subjects. However, our study is a beautiful first step, without which we would not move forward. ”
Even scientific studies have their limits
"The biggest snag here is, of course, the fact that the research was done on mice and not directly on humans. In addition, really high doses of CBD were used. However, we already know from the past that the neurobiology of mice and humans coincides relatively well in a large number of cases. Studies such as ours are therefore, of course, essential for the discovery and identification of potentially therapeutic substances and chemicals, ”adds Cornish to the research results and further looks at future steps:
“From the data set obtained in this way, we are able to construct plans for future research and experiments that will quite possibly lead us to develop a method of use.
for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence, but also as a substance by which addicts can reduce the dosage of methamphetamine alone. "
Therapeutic cannabis remains mysterious
Cornish concludes the discussion with a reflection on the complexity of the cannabis plant: “For us as scientists, medical cannabis remains largely a mystery waiting to be solved. This plant contains more than 400 different chemicals, of which 70 are cannabinoids capable of interacting with the human endocannabinoid system. The potential of this plant is truly amazing, and scientists around the world should definitely not overlook it. Who knows what other therapeutic applications are still hidden in cannabis? ”
Source: psypost.org