Could cannabis have antipsychotic properties?

[Flying_Dutchman]

Could cannabis have antipsychotic properties?

 

In addition to psychoactive chemicals, cannabis contains components that may have a protective effect in mental illness.

http://www.neura.edu.au/sites/neura.edu.au/files/event_images/candybar-734.png

http://www.neura.edu.au/sites/neura.edu.au/files/event_images/tim-285.jpg

When Dr Tim Karl, a senior scientist at NeuRA, says he believes that marijuana has potential as a treatment for schizophrenia, he’s adding fuel to a very contentious fire.

Marijuana – or cannabis, as it is otherwise known – is a controversial substance, particularly in light of evidence that it can trigger the development of schizophrenia in some people.

But cannabis, says Dr Karl, is made up of dozens of chemical components that can have widely varying effects on the brain.

Dr Karl and his team are investigating a component called cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD is thought to reduce the psychoactive effects of the most well-known component of cannabis, THC.

THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is the main active chemical in cannabis, and is known to increase psychotic symptoms in people with schizophrenia.

"We’re looking at whether CBD just has the capacity to block the effects of THC, or whether it has an independent anti-psychotic effect," says Dr Karl.

"If CBD is shown to have anti-psychotic properties, I believe it could have therapeutic potential."

First hand experience

Dr Karl says his interest in schizophrenia developed in part from working in an emergency psychiatric ward in Germany after he finished high school.

"I saw people who had had psychotic episodes, people who were suicidal. I felt deeply sorry for them because their options were so limited," he says.

Dr Karl saw first-hand the limited effectiveness of the drugs available to those patients in the psychiatric ward – and the need to develop more effective alternatives with fewer side-effects.

The majority of Dr Karl’s work will be done in mice bred to carry a genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, a gene called neuregulin 1http://www.neura.edu.au/sites/neura.edu.au/files/event_images/mouse-285.jpgThese mice are genetically predisposed for schizophrenia (NRG1). These mice are susceptible to the effects of THC in a similar way to people who are genetically predisposed to experiencing psychosis if they use cannabis during adolescence.

The team has already begun looking at the effects of CBD in mice using various strains of cannabis with different THC:CBD ratios.

"This research will tell us whether particular strains of cannabis are more likely than others to induce psychotic-like symptoms, based on their THC:CBD ratio," says Dr Karl.

Dr Karl says this research will clarify whether CBD has a protective effect and therefore potential as an anti-psychotic therapeutic.

They will also gain a better understanding of the risks involved in early cannabis abuse and the interactive nature of genetic and environmental risk factors for schizophrenia.

"I don't believe that my work will cure schizophrenia, but it will give insights into the biological mechanisms of the disorder and might help us develop better treatments," he says.

[kilindi]

very interesting but i guess it depends on the individual. in some, it's been attributed to bringing on schizophrenia. those people are supposed to have a natural predisposition towards it whereas others may respond in a more positive way. genes and environment are everything.

[Ford Fairlane]

Great article, thanks for sharing. Great to see some more research into cbd.

Edited August 24, 2013 by Ford Fairlane

[Flying_Dutchman]

very interesting but i guess it depends on the individual. in some, it's been attributed to bringing on schizophrenia. those people are supposed to have a natural predisposition towards it whereas others may respond in a more positive way. genes and environment are everything.

 

THC makes psychotic symptoms worse in those who suffer from a pscyhotic disposition such as schitsophrenia.

 

THC can also bring on psychosis and schitsophrenia in those pre-dispositioned to developing the illness.

 

CBD is a chemical also found in cannabis, differring to its THC counterpart in the sense that it is anti-psychotic in nature.

 

This is big news for people who suffer from a psychotic illness such as schitsophrenia. It is a very disabling illness and medication that is used to currently treat people with the illness has very nasty side effects. Particularily in the early stages of treatment. If CBD can replace anti-psychotic medication currently on the market this is a huge thing.

CBD has no side effects compared to anti -psychotics currently on the market and is a natural form of medicine.

 

Can this information benefit you? It sure can, smoking cannabis strains that are high in CBD. For instance CBD crew strains available from Mr Nice Seedbank, gives a you a much better chance of not developing schitsophrenia then smoking high THC strains. High CBD strains , particularily Indicas are also less likely to induce paranoia and anxiety.

 

CBD is also neuroprotective and will not get you high like THC. It is in itself a form of treatment for an array of medical conditions.

[Flying_Dutchman]

Further research, extracted from;  http://www.beckleyfoundation.org/2011/02/antisychotic-effects-of-cannabidiol/

 

Antisychotic Effects of Cannabidiol

09/02/2011

in Cannabis,Library Updates

 

Background: In contrast to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the phytocannabinoid cannabidiol does not exert psychotomimetic effects. Cannabidiol was suggested a re-uptake inhibitor of anandamide and potential antipsychotic properties have been hypothesized for it. We therefore performed a clinical trial to investigate thesis hypothesis and to clarify the underlying link to the neurobiology of schizophrenia.
Methods: We performed an explorative, 4-week, double-blind, controlled clinical trial on the effects of purified cannabidiol in acute schizophrenia compared to the antipsychotic amisulpride. The antipsychotic properties of both drugs were the primary target of the study. Furthermore, side-effects and anxiolytic capabilities of both treatments were investigated.
Results: 42 patients fulfilling DSM-IV criteria of acute paranoid schizophrenia participated in the study. Both treatments were associated with a significant decrease of psychotic symptoms after 2 and 4 weeks as assessed by BPRS and PANSS. However, there was no statistical difference between both treatment groups. In contrast, cannabidiol induced significantly less side effects (EPS, increase in prolactin, weight gain) when compared to amisulpride.
Conclusions: Cannabidiol revealed substantial antipsychotic properties in acute schizophrenia. This is in line with our suggestion of an adaptive role of the endocannabinoid system in paranoid schizophrenia, and raises further evidence that this adaptive mechanism may represent a valuable target for antipsychotic treatment strategies.
The Stanley Medical Research Institute (00-093 to FML) and the Koeln Fortune Program (107/2000 + 101/2001 to FML) funded this
study.

[Flying_Dutchman]

http://timewellness.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/71936557a.jpg?w=360&h=240&crop=1

 

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.

(MORE: The Complex Link Between Marijuana and Schizophrenia)

“The results were amazing,” says Daniele Piomelli, 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 medications can potentially cause devastating and sometimes permanent movement disorders; they can also reduce users’ motivation and pleasure. The new generation of antipsychotic drugs also often leads to weight gain and can increase diabetes risk. These side effects have long been known to be a major obstacle to treatment.

In the German study, published online in March by the journal Translational Psychiatry, weight gain and movement problems were seen in patients taking amisulpride, but not CBD.

“These exciting findings should stimulate a great deal of research,” says 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 include social withdrawal, blunting of pleasure and lack of motivation, which commonly occur in schizophrenia. Since current antipsychotic medications can themselves cause the same problems, however, it wasn’t clear whether CBD was better than amisulpride at treating these symptoms, or whether CBD simply caused fewer side effects to begin with.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2012/05/30/marijuana-compound-treats-schizophrenia-with-few-side-effects-clinical-trial/#ixzz2cr2aYvN8

[Pontificate]

Thanks for finding this research F_D

[Flying_Dutchman]

Thanks for finding this research F_D

 

No worries Pontificate. I put this up for the stoner public to mull over. CBD is a natural antipsychotic with far fewer side effects than antispychotic medication currently available and looks to be a promising treatment for schitsophrenics and people sufferring from psychotic illness. This interests me, expecially with widespread knowledge that THC can antagonise psychotic illness. Cannabis is clearly a wonderous plant that needs to be studied vigorously for its potential medical applications.

 

CBD rich cannabis strains are being made available buy some hard working breeders, such as Shantibaba (Mr nice seeds). You can order the CBD crew strains through Bonza, Amnesia and/or Demon Seeds. - Three sources attached to this website that I highly recommend. .... (Noticed CBD Crew link with Amnesia seeds)

 

There are also several other breeders and californian medical marijuana counterparts working hard to develop high concentrations of CBD abundant cannabis. Several hemp varities also contain proportions of CBD with little or no THC.

 

Note too that high proportions of CBD with respect to THC cannabis, is a much healthier alternative to high THC strains alone. High proportions of CBD in your cannabis reduces the likely hood of psychotic and mainstream mental health complications when in comparison to high THC strains alone.

 

Smoke in Moderation people and if you must have a toke, why not toke with a little more CBD in your THC mix.

 

Peace,

 

Dutchman

Edited September 24, 2013 by Flying_Dutchman

[whitey79]

i am a diagnosed schizo now called bipolar which comes in 3 levels lmao i also am agoraphobic (cant stand large crowds) since i was in my mid teens i have been treated with many different medications and treatments all with differing effects it took me many years of self study to understand how and what is and has worked for me i no longer take large amounts or dose rates of tablets to function and only take one tablet to help with anxiety and thats only on days i know im possibly going to need it (overly stressed situations and large gatherings) i use marijuana both as recreational and medicinal. i am by far from cured but have far greater control over my emtions and actions now then i ever have. now there was a couple of pharmaceuticals that worked near on as well serequol was one from memory but was like a walking zombie and could barely have a cognitive thought within my head sure i could function in society as what im not sure and i didnt like it so sorry doc time to change the pills again now most of these meds take time to be effective in your body so you need to take for say 3 months to be effective and then if they aren't right you got to wean yourself of them for another 3months i can have a puff tonight say 5 cones and still be medicated for upto 5 days depending on smoko though there is much experiment and research needed but im swearing by how it has effected me and my doc agrees (maybe more accepts) now after many years of treatment that the simple old weed plant has worked for me i wish he would stand up for the cause but have asked and got a no and he still doesn't condone the use lmao but as with all things some things are more suited to some than others your the best judge on what goes into your body but i do wish it marijuana was medicinalized and decriminalized it does also help me with neck tension and migraines long live the weed and the people that choose to smoke it

[kilindi]

THC makes psychotic symptoms worse in those who suffer from a pscyhotic disposition such as schitsophrenia.

 

THC can also bring on psychosis and schitsophrenia in those pre-dispositioned to developing the illness.

 

CBD is a chemical also found in cannabis, differring to its THC counterpart in the sense that it is anti-psychotic in nature.

 

This is big news for people who suffer from a psychotic illness such as schitsophrenia. It is a very disabling illness and medication that is used to currently treat people with the illness has very nasty side effects. Particularily in the early stages of treatment. If CBD can replace anti-psychotic medication currently on the market this is a huge thing.

CBD has no side effects compared to anti -psychotics currently on the market and is a natural form of medicine.

 

Can this information benefit you? It sure can, smoking cannabis strains that are high in CBD. For instance CBD crew strains available from Mr Nice Seedbank, gives a you a much better chance of not developing schitsophrenia then smoking high THC strains. High CBD strains , particularily Indicas are also less likely to induce paranoia and anxiety.

 

CBD is also neuroprotective and will not get you high like THC. It is in itself a form of treatment for an array of medical conditions.

 

sorry i must have missed that it was about cbd. i have read quite a bit on the therapeutic potential of cbd actually. it is very very interesting.

 

isn't cbd is the compnent responsible for couch lock?