Pharmacology of Tetrahydrocannabinol
[ Hemp Page ]
Tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC)
was first isolated from hemp in 1965. THC's intoxicating and medicinal
properties have been touted for thousands of years; however, use of the
substance is highly controlled in the U.S. and in some other countries.
Delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol, in capsule form more commonly
known as dronabinol
and sold as Marinol by Roxane Laboratories, is federally recognized as an
appetite
stimulant and anti-nausea/vomiting (antiemetic) agent (though some
research
indicates it is
useful as an anti-glaucoma
agent as well). It is available only through
special prescription to treat persons suffering from chemotherapy- or
radiation-related nausea, and to treat people suffering from
AIDS-related
anorexia. The FDA approved it for use as an antiemetic for chemotherapy
patients in 1985 and as
an appetite stimulant for AIDS patients in 1992.
Dronabinol has a complicated effect on the central nervous system but
it basically suppresses the neural impulses associated with nausea and
stimulates the appetite (sometimes quite dramatically). As an appetite
stimulant, a typical
effective dose is 5 milligrams/day (2.5 mg an hour before lunch and
dinner), though in clinical trials the dose ranged from 2.5-20 mg/day.
As an antiemetic, total daily dosages range from 2.5-40 mg/day.
Antiemetic doses are administered every
four to six hours and seem to
work best for people undergoing chemotherapy for
lymphoma. Doctors can
also obtain and prescribe federally-rolled marijuana cigarettes for
patients who are too sick to keep down pills.
Side effects of dronabinol can include sleepiness, dizziness,
confusion, and rapid heartbeat. Severe overdoses can cause panic
attacks, seizures in epileptics, and possibly hallucinations. Long-term
use can possibly result in psychological
addiction. Abrupt discontinuation of the drug can cause symptoms such as
irritability, insomnia and sweating. In animal studies, dronabinol
caused stillbirths and pup mortality, so it's recommended that
pregnant women avoid the drug.
This information is for educational use only. People
should
not attempt to medicate themselves with THC or with any of the other drugs
listed in Cyberbotanica. Possession of unprescribed THC is illegal in the
U.S. and many other countries.