| Journal | Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire) |
| Study Type | Clinical Study |
| Population | Human participants |
This item covers developments relevant to cannabis medicine and clinical practice. Clinicians monitoring evidence in this area should review the source material.
Previous studies have demonstrated that the endocannabinoid system plays a significant role in the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and CB1 receptor antagonists/inverse agonists show promise as a novel AUD pharmacotherapy. However, these compounds failed in clinical trials due to the severe psychiatric side effects. Non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids may have a better safety profile and could be used as an alternative approach to treat AUD. The aim of this study was to test the potential of three phytocannabinoids in reducing alcohol consumption: CB1 receptor partial agonist cannabinol (CBN), neutral antagonist tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) and negative allosteric modulator cannabidiol (CBD). Male Wistar rats were subjected to a long-term voluntary alcohol drinking procedure that lasted for several months. Thereafter, rats were given three once daily administrations of CBN, THCV, or CBD. Their side-effect profile was examined by recording changes in water consumption, body we
“This is a development worth tracking. The clinical implications will become clearer as more evidence accumulates.”
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FAQ
Was this cannabinoid and alcohol study done in people or animals?
It was done in animals, not people. Male Wistar rats were put through a long-term voluntary alcohol drinking procedure that lasted for several months, and only after that were they given the cannabinoids. The study therefore tested these compounds in an animal model of long-term drinking rather than in human patients.
Which cannabinoids were tested, and how do they act on CB1 receptors?
Three plant cannabinoids were tested, each acting on the CB1 receptor in a different way: cannabinol (CBN) is a partial agonist, tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a neutral antagonist, and cannabidiol (CBD) is a negative allosteric modulator. The aim was to test their potential to reduce alcohol consumption.
What happened with earlier CB1-blocking drugs for alcohol use disorder?
Previous studies showed that the endocannabinoid system plays a significant role in the development of alcohol use disorder, and CB1 receptor antagonists or inverse agonists showed promise as a new treatment. However, these compounds failed in clinical trials because of severe psychiatric side effects.
Why might non-psychoactive plant cannabinoids be considered for alcohol use disorder?
The article suggests that non-psychoactive phytocannabinoids may have a better safety profile than the CB1-blocking drugs that failed in trials, and could be used as an alternative approach to treating alcohol use disorder. This remains a possibility rather than an established treatment, and testing that potential in rats was the purpose of this study.
How were the cannabinoids given, and how were side effects checked?
After the months-long drinking period, the rats received three once-daily administrations of CBN, THCV, or CBD. To examine the side-effect profile of each compound, the researchers recorded changes in several measures, including the rats’ water consumption, alongside their test of whether each compound could reduce alcohol consumption.
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