Marijuana Compound Treats Schizophrenia with Few Side Effects: Clinica

[Allotropy]

A compound found in marijuana can treat schizophrenia as effectively as antipsychotic medications, with far fewer side effects, according to a preliminary clinical trial.

Researchers led by Markus Leweke of the University of Cologne in Germany studied 39 people with schizophrenia who were hospitalized for a psychotic episode. Nineteen patients were treated with amisulpride, an antipsychotic medication that is not approved in the U.S., but is comparable to other medications that are.

The rest of the patients were given cannabidiol (CBD), a substance found in marijuana that is thought to be responsible for some of its mellowing or anxiety-reducing effects. Unlike the main ingredient in marijuana, THC, which can produce psychotic reactions and may worsen schizophrenia, CBD has antipsychotic effects, according to previous research in both animals and humans.

Neither the patients nor the scientists knew who was getting which drug. At the end of the four-week trial, both groups showed significant clinical improvement in their schizophrenic symptoms, and there was no difference between those getting CBD or amisulpride.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/05/30/marijuana-compound-treats-schizophrenia-with-few-side-effects-clinical-trial/#ixzz25bEVNs61

[Naycha]

Interesting stuff.

 

Without a control group though (one not receiving medication) it's possible that neither medication had anything to do with the improvement. eg. maybe they just improved because they believed they were getting a treatment and should improve.

 

Naycha

[Allotropy]

Marijuana Compound May Beat Antipsychotics at Treating Schizophrenia

 

By Traci Pedersen Associate News Editor

Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on June 7, 2012

http://g.psychcentral.com/news/u/2012/06/Marijuana-Compound-May-Beat-Antipsychotics-at-Treating-Schizophrenia.jpgA certain marijuana compound known as cannabidiol (CBD) can treat schizophrenia as well as antipsychotic drugs, with far fewer side effects, according to a preliminary clinical trial.

The research team, led by Markus Leweke of the University of Cologne in Germany, studied 39 people with schizophrenia who were hospitalized for a psychotic episode. Nineteen patients were treated with amisulpride, an antipsychotic medication that is not approved in the U.S., but is similar to other approved drugs.

The remaining 20 patients were given CBD, a substance found in marijuana that is considered responsible for the mellowing or anxiety-reducing effects. Unlike the main ingredient in marijuana, THC, which can trigger psychotic episodes and worsen schizophrenia, CBD has antipsychotic effects, according to prior research in both animals and humans.

Neither the patients nor the scientists knew who was receiving which drug. At the end of the four-week trial, both groups made significant clinical improvements in their schizophrenic symptoms, and there was no difference between those getting CBD or amisulpride.

“The results were amazing,” said Daniel Piomelli, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology at the University of California-Irvine and a co-author of the study. “Not only was [CBD] as effective as standard antipsychotics, but it was also essentially free of the typical side effects seen with antipsychotic drugs.”

Antipsychotic drugs may cause devastating and sometimes permanent movement disorders; they can also lower a patient’s motivation and pleasure. The new generation of these drugs can also lead to weight gain and increase the risk for diabetes. These side effects are well known as a major hindrance during treatment.

In the German study, weight gain and movement problems were observed in patients taking amisulpride, but not CBD.

“These exciting findings should stimulate a great deal of research,” said Dr. John Krystal, chair of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine, who was not associated with the research. He notes that CBD not only had fewer side effects, but also seemed to work better on schizophrenia’s so-called “negative symptoms,” which are notoriously hard to treat.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia include social withdrawal, a lowered sense of pleasure and a lack of motivation. However, since current antipsychotic medications can actually cause these negative symptoms, it wasn’t clear whether CBD was better than amisulpride at getting rid of these symptoms, or whether CBD simply caused fewer side effects to begin with.

If replicated, the results suggest that CBD may be at least as effective as current medications for the treatment of schizophrenia, without the severe side effects that make patients reluctant to take medication.

“The real problem with CBD is that it’s hard to develop for a variety of silly reasons,” said Piomelli. Since it comes from marijuana, there are obvious political issues surrounding its use. Extracting it from the plant is also expensive.

But the biggest obstacle may be that CBD is a natural compound, and therefore can’t be patented the way new drugs are. So although CBD could outsell the current blockbuster antipsychotic drugs, pharmaceutical companies aren’t likely to develop it. Researchers are working to develop synthetic versions of CBD that would avoid such hurdles.

“We have one and are hoping to move forward in the near future,” Piomelli said.

The study is published online in the journal Translational Psychiatry.

Source: University of Cologne

Edited September 5, 2012 by Allotropy

[Allotropy]

Yeah this is ground breaking in my opinion. Anti psychotic drugs are the devil. Horrible medications that have ridiculously horrible side effects.

 

THC is a not a good substance for people with schitsophrenia.

 

It is enlightening to read that pure CBD has Anti Psychotic Properties.

 

It is still unclear however at least to me at this stage, as to whether or not cannabis with higher ratios of CBD to THC are safe for people to smoke with schitsophrenia.

 

At least pure CBD strains are not only safe, but theraputic.

 

Edited September 5, 2012 by Allotropy

[louise]

Anti psychotic drugs are the devil. Horrible medications that have ridiculously horrible side effects.

Shit, really? The only side effects that I experiece are some sleepiness and the munchies about 45mins after my evening dose... I'd hardly call them 'ridiculously horrible' seeing as they are the same side effects I get from smoking cannabis.

 

Actually, if you were talking about the orginal antipsychotics (things like haloperidol or stelazine) , I'd agree with you, but the newer, atypical or second generation drugs are a different kettle of fish entirely.

[Allotropy]

What medication are you on and what dose. You have to be shitting me. Anti - psychotics are notorious for nasty side effects. You must be either on a small dose or have a very strong constitution.

 

Every psychiatric publication, review or patient response, note horrible side effects sometimes lasting as long as 3 years for the duration of use. From serious tiredness, to massive weight gain, nausea, depression, suicidal tendancies, dizziness, concentration problems and general side effects not allready mentioned.

 

Even in the movie a beautiful mind, as you speculated earlier the man was on an earlier anti psychotic drug and opted not to take the medication due to the side effects.

 

One of the most difficult thing for psychiatrists around the world is compliance with medication for their patients. Paticularily anti-psychotic medications. Ie Clozapine, risperadal, seroquel and zyprexa

 

with Clozapine requiring regular blood tests for the rest of your life whilst on it.

 

Anyhow i'm sorry to say I disagree with you.

Edited September 6, 2012 by Allotropy

[louise]

What medication are you on and what dose.

Quetiapine 200mg nocte.

 

Compliance is the biggest issue in psycho pharmapedia, but I'd have to say lithium is the worst thing I've ever personally taken, closely followed by carbamazepine (who can live with vertical double vision?).

 

Feel free to disagree, it's what good conversations are made of

Edited September 6, 2012 by louise

[Allotropy]

I have to agree to disagree with you here again. not really.

 

They get better with time though, for sure. I think there is the breaking in peroid where you first take them and it's a living nightmare.

 

With time the side effects disappear and you get used to them.

 

Everyone is different though and I imagine it depends on the dose and the person. 200 mg is not bad I know someone who was on 800mg of seroquel.

Edited September 6, 2012 by Allotropy

[louise]

I was speaking from personal experience. Start up side effects are one thing but 5 years down the track, you'd expect things to get better. As far as mood stabilising drugs go, I've swallowed them all and even gone down the ECT route. At least for me, an antipsychotic has been the troubling drug of all.

 

800mg is a hefty dose...I hope it actually works for the problem at hand.

Edited September 6, 2012 by louise

[bluntman_77]

 

 

THC is a not a good substance for people with schitsophrenia.

 

 

 

 

there have not been very many good studies into severe mental health issues and cannabis , most go along the lines of people with schizophrenia use cannabis , ergo cannabis causes schizophrenia . The true relationship and its degree have not really been established .

 

I would agree that personally I would not recommend any psychoactive or stimulant substance to those with mental health issues , but studies like this one definitely throw open the issue of causality .

[louise]

All people experience mental health issues, just as all people experience physical health issues. It's really just a matter of degree.

 

Personally, I think we need to stop making an arbitary division between between people 'with' mental health issues and people 'without' mental health issues. It's smacks of paternalism and further stigmatises those people who experience defined disorders.

 

I know there are several members here using cannabis to relieve some of the symptoms that come with PTSD, others using it to managing the lows of depression, and still yet others using it for Asperger's Syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders.

 

I don't recommend any drug to any person. Those decisions should (in my thinking at least) remain with the owner of the body and no one else.

Edited September 9, 2012 by louise