cannabidiol and Acquired-Immunodeficiency-Syndrome

Individuals with wasting syndrome lose muscle or lean body mass rather than body fat. Several possible alternatives to the approved drugs for AIDS-related wasting are discussed. Ketotifen, an antihistamine approved in Europe, is a TNF inhibitor. Anabolic steroids are testosterone derivatives designed to increase strength and muscle. Although there are anecdotal reports of success with these steroids, their long-term safety and efficacy have yet to be established in placebo-controlled studies. An ongoing study at Mt. Sinai shows a statistically significant effect on lean body mass in the first twelve men to complete the study. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Although its role in the body is poorly understood; it may have immunologic effects, and appears to influence metabolism. There have been no studies of DHEA's effect on weight or body composition in people with AIDS-related wasting. A study combining ketotifen and oxymetholone, the oral anabolic steroid, was presented at the Ninth International AIDS Conference. Preliminary data from a study combining ketotifen and oxymetholone showed that 18 out of 22 patients gained an average of 11.4 pounds after treatment of an average of 3.9 weeks. Finally, a trial of smoked marijuana versus the oral drug marinol for AIDS-related wasting syndrome may be canceled. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) rejected the Community Consortium of San Francisco's proposal to obtain officially sanctioned cannabis.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Anabolic Agents; Cannabidiol; Dronabinol; Female; Humans; Ketotifen; Male; Marijuana Smoking; National Institutes of Health (U.S.); Quality of Life; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Weight Gain