humulene and Catatonia

1 The pharmacological potencies of the resins from three different samples of Brazilian marihuana (A, B and C) were determined through corneal areflexia in rabbits, decrease of spontaneous motor activity and induction of catatonia in mice, and decrease of rope climbing performance of rats.2 The Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9) THC) content of the marihuanas, measured by gas chromatography, was 0.82, 2.02 and 0.52%, respectively, for samples A, B and C. Approximately 2% cannabinol was present in samples A and B whereas the content of cannabidiol was approximately 0.1%.3 The petroleum ether extraction of the samples A, B and C yielded, respectively, 12.06, 14.56 and 4.26% of resin.4 In all animal tests resin B was nearly twice as active as resin A, whereas C was the weakest.5 The smoke of the marihuana samples was inhaled by 33 human subjects, under a double-blind standardized procedure. Pulse rate, a time production task and an evaluation of psychological effects were recorded.6 The smoke of 250 mg of sample B provoked disruption of the time production task, increased pulse rate, and induced strong psychological reactions in four of the six subjects who received it. Similar effects, although slightly smaller, were obtained with 500 mg of sample A. On the other hand, 500 mg of sample C did not differ from placebo.7 It is suggested that it is possible by means of animal tests to predict the potency of a marihuana sample in man.8 In parallel experiments, Delta(9)-THC was administered to other human subjects and to laboratory animals in a manner similar to that in which the marihuana samples were administered.9 Comparison of the results between the marihuanas and Delta(9)-THC showed that in man and in the laboratory animals marihuanas A and B induced effects two to four times greater than expected from their Delta(9)-THC content.10 It is suggested that there may be potentiation of the effects of Delta(9)-THC by other substances present in these marihuana samples.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cannabis; Catatonia; Chromatography, Gas; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cornea; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Dronabinol; Drug Synergism; Feedback; Humans; Male; Mice; Motor Activity; Pulse; Rabbits; Rats; Reflex; Time Perception

Catatonia is a syndrome of primarily psychomotor disturbances most common in psychiatric mood disorders but that also rarely has been described in association with cannabis use.. A 15-year-old White male presented with left leg weakness, altered mental status, and chest pain, which then progressed to global weakness, minimal speech, and a fixed gaze. After ruling out organic causes of his symptoms, cannabis-induced catatonia was suspected, and the patient responded immediately and completely to lorazepam administration.. Cannabis-induced catatonia has been described in several case reports worldwide, with a wide range and duration of symptoms reported. There is little known about the risk factors, treatment, and prognosis of cannabis-induced catatonia.. This report emphasizes the importance of clinicians maintaining a high index of suspicion to accurately diagnose and treat cannabis-induced neuropsychiatric conditions, which is especially important as the use of high-potency cannabis products in young people increases.

Topics: Adolescent; Cannabis; Catatonia; Humans; Lorazepam; Male; Prognosis

Topics: Adolescent; Cannabinoids; Cannabis; Catatonia; Designer Drugs; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Lorazepam; Male; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Recurrence

We present the case of a young man with a long-standing history of schizophrenia who presented with severe and life-threatening catatonia in the setting of synthetic cannabis use who was successfully treated with electroconvulsive therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of severe and persistent catatonia in the setting of synthetic cannabis use and the first documented successful treatment.

Topics: Adult; Cannabis; Catatonia; Designer Drugs; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Humans; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Schizophrenia; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Adult; Amphetamines; Cannabis; Catatonia; Chlorpromazine; Depression; Humans; Male; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Substance-Related Disorders

The pharmacological activities of delta9-THC [(minus)-delta9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol], CBN (Cannabinol) and mixtures of delta9-THC + CBN were studied in rabbits, rats and mice. CBN, although in general less active, mimicked the effects of delta9-THC in several pharmacological tests: corneal arreflexia in rabbits; climbing rope, open-field, irritability and aggressiveness after REM sleep deprivation in rats; catatonia, analgesia and sleeping time in mice. When the mixture delta9-THC + CBN was used, a synergistic effect occurred on most of the depressant effects. On the other hand CBN did not interfere with or slightly inhibited the excitatory effects of delta9-THC. In the one peripheral test used, CBN did not alter the delta9-THC effect.

Topics: Aggression; Analgesia; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Cannabis; Catatonia; Cornea; Dronabinol; Drug Synergism; Exploratory Behavior; Female; Humans; Male; Mice; Motor Skills; Pentobarbital; Rabbits; Rats; Reflex; Sleep; Sleep Deprivation; Sleep, REM

Topics: Acetylcholinesterase; Administration, Oral; Aggression; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Brain; Brain Chemistry; Cannabis; Catatonia; Depression, Chemical; Dronabinol; Female; Humans; Hyperkinesis; Male; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Rats; RNA; Seizures; Stimulation, Chemical; Time Factors

Topics: Aggression; Analgesia; Animals; Cannabis; Catatonia; Cornea; Defecation; Dronabinol; Drug Synergism; Humans; Male; Mice; Rabbits; Rats; Reflex; Resorcinols; Sleep Deprivation; Sleep, REM; Terpenes

Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Biological Assay; Brazil; Cannabis; Catatonia; Chromatography, Gas; Dronabinol; Germany, West; Humans; Male; Mice; Motor Activity; Rabbits; Rats; Smoking

Topics: Aggression; Animals; Benzopyrans; Cannabis; Catatonia; Cornea; Depression, Chemical; Dronabinol; Humans; Male; Mice; Motor Activity; Plant Extracts; Rabbits; Structure-Activity Relationship

Topics: Animals; Ataxia; Behavior; Cannabis; Catatonia; Dogs; Humans; Psychopharmacology

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aggression; Amphetamine; Barbiturates; Cannabis; Catatonia; Chronic Disease; Dissociative Disorders; Female; Heroin; Humans; Juvenile Delinquency; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Male; Paranoid Disorders; Personality Disorders; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Schizophrenia; Social Class; Student Dropouts; Substance-Related Disorders