Cannabinoids and autoimmune diseases: A systematic review.

Posted on February 17, 2016 by David

“Cannabinoids have shown to have a variety effects on body systems. Through CB1 and CB2 receptors, amongst other, they exert an effect by modulating neurotransmitter and cytokine release.

Current research in the role of cannabinoids in the immune system shows that they possess immunosuppressive properties. They can inhibit proliferation of leucocytes, induce apoptosis of T cells and macrophages and reduce secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

In mice models, they are effective in reducing inflammation in arthritis, multiple sclerosis, have a positive effect on neuropathic pain and in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

They are effective as treatment for fibromyalgia and have shown to have anti-fibrotic effect in scleroderma.

Studies in human models are scarce and not conclusive and more research is required in this field.

Cannabinoids can be therefore promising immunosuppressive and anti-fibrotic agents in the therapy of autoimmune disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26876387

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/autoimmune-disease/

Cannabinoids for treatment of glaucoma.

Posted on February 4, 2016 by David

“The purpose of this article is to review the current status of cannabis in the treatment of glaucoma, including the greater availability of marijuana in the USA.

The pharmacology of marijuana and its effect on intraocular pressure has not changed since the research in the 1970s and 1980s.

Marijuana is an effective ocular hypotensive agent.

However, cardiovascular and neurological effects are observed at the same dose, and may theoretically reduce the beneficial effect of lowering intraocular pressure by reducing ocular blood flow. The clinician must be cognizant of this potential in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26840343

Cannabidiol Effective and Safe at 3 Months for Epilepsy

Posted on January 4, 2016 by David

“New open-label data from the expanded-access treatment program involving the cannabidiol Epidiolex(GW Pharma) show the median reduction in frequency of convulsive seizures after 3 months of treatment was 45% in all patients but higher in those with Dravet syndrome, among the most severe types of epilepsy.

The data are “very positive and promising,” said lead author Orrin Devinsky, MD, professor, neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry, and director, New York University Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.” http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/855768

“More Positive Results With Cannabidiol in Epilepsy” http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/853781

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Medical Cannabis Effective for Chronic Pain, Other Indications

Posted on September 28, 2015 by David

“According to this study:

* Moderate-quality evidence supports the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and for the spasticity related to multiple sclerosis.

* Low-quality evidence suggests that cannabinoids may be effective for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and other indications.”

http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Abstract/2015/10000/Medical_Cannabis_Effective_for_Chronic_Pain,_Other.31.aspx

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282153137_Medical_Cannabis_Effective_for_Chronic_Pain_Other_Indications

“Medical Cannabis Effective for Chronic Pain, Other Indications. According to this study.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26402288

“Cannabinoids for Medical Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2338251

Effect of combined doses of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) on acute and anticipatory nausea using rat (Sprague- Dawley) models of conditioned gaping.

Posted on September 19, 2015 by David

“Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) found in cannabis both reduce the distressing symptom of nausea…

Combined subthreshold doses of THC and CBDA reduced acute nausea.

Higher doses of THC or CBDA alone, as well as these combined doses also reduced acute nausea.

Combined subthreshold doses of THC:CBDA are particularly effective as a treatment for acute nausea. At higher doses, CBDA may attenuate THC-induced interference with learning.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26381155

[Neuroprotective mechanisms of cannabinoids in brain ischemia and neurodegenerative disorders].

Posted on August 25, 2015 by David

“One of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality is neurologic dysfunction; its high incidence has led to an intense research of the mechanisms that protect the central nervous system from hypoxia and ischemia. The mayor challenge is to block the biochemical events leading to neuronal death.

This may be achieved by neuroprotective mechanisms that avoid the metabolic and immunologic cascades that follow a neurological damage. When it occurs, several pathophysiological events develop including cytokine release, oxidative stress and excitotoxicity.

Neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids to all those mechanisms have been reported in animal models of brain ischemia, excitotoxicity, brain trauma and neurodegenerative disorders.

Some endocannabinoid analogs are being tested in clinical studies (I-III phase) for acute disorders involving neuronal death (brain trauma and ischemia).

The study of the cannabinoid system may allow the discovery of effective neuroprotective drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26299059

Neuropeptide VF Enhances Cannabinoid Agonist WIN55,212-2-Induced Antinociception in Mice.

Posted on August 15, 2015 by David

“Cannabinoids produce analgesia in several pain models, but the undesirable side effects from high doses of cannabinoid drugs limit their clinic use.

Our recent results indicate that cannabinoid-induced antinociception was enhanced by neuropeptide VF (NPVF).

Here, we investigate whether low-dose cannabinoid agonists combined with NPVF can produce effective antinociception with limited side effects…

These data suggest that the cannabinoid agonist combined with NPVF produces effective antinociception-lacking tolerance via both cannabinoid receptor type 1 and neuropeptide FF receptors in the brain.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26273748

Cannabinoids blocks tactile allodynia in diabetic mice without attenuation of its antinociceptive effect.

Posted on July 25, 2015 by David

“Diabetic neuropathic pain is one of the most commonly encountered neuropathic pain syndromes.

It is well known that diabetic animals are less sensitive to the analgesic effect of morphine, and opioids are found to be ineffective in the treatment of diabetic neuropathic pain.

Cannabinoids are promising drugs and they share a similar pharmacological properties with opioids.

It has been reported that cannabinoid analgesia remained intact and to be effective in some models of nerve injury.

Thus, we investigated antinociceptive efficacy and the effects of cannabinoids on behavioral sign of diabetic neuropathic pain in diabetic mice by using WIN 55, 212-2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist.

This study suggests that cannabinoids have a potential beneficial effect on experimental diabetic neuropathic pain.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15342139

Drug-drug interaction between clobazam and cannabidiol in children with refractory epilepsy.

Posted on June 27, 2015 by David

“Under an expanded access investigational new drug (IND) trial, cannabidiol (CBD) is being studied as a possible adjuvant treatment of refractory epilepsy in children.

Of the 25 subjects in the trial, 13 were being treated with clobazam (CLB). Because CLB and CBD are both metabolized in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) pathway, we predicted a drug-drug interaction, which we evaluate in this article…

Monitoring of CLB and nCLB levels is necessary for clinical care of patients concomitantly on CLB and CBD.

Nonetheless, CBD is a safe and effective treatment of refractory epilepsy in patients receiving CLB treatment.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26114620

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/epilepsy-2/

Medical Marijuana for Treatment of Chronic Pain and Other Medical and Psychiatric Problems: A Clinical Review.

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David

“Use of marijuana for chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity due to multiple sclerosis is supported by high-quality evidence.

Several of these trials had positive results, suggesting that marijuana or cannabinoids may be efficacious for these indications.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:

Medical marijuana is used to treat a host of indications, a few of which have evidence to support treatment with marijuana and many that do not. Physicians should educate patients about medical marijuana to ensure that it is used appropriately and that patients will benefit from its use.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26103031