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Clinical pharmacology of nabilone, a cannabinol derivative
Author(s) -
Lemberger Louis,
Rowe Howard
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1975186720
Subject(s) - cannabinol , pharmacology , clinical pharmacology , chemistry , medicine , cannabidiol , cannabis , psychiatry
Nabilone is a modified cannabinol derivative with central nervous system activity. Administration of nabilone in single doses of 1 to 5 mg results in dose‐related pharmacologic effects in man. One and 2.5 mg doses of nabilone induced relaxant and sedative effects in all subjects. No euphoria, dry mouth, tachycardia, or postural hypotension was seen after 1 mg, minimal effects were seen after 2.5 mg, and marked effects were seen after 5 mg. Effects were evident within 60 to 90 min and persisted for 8 to 12 hr. Nabilone produced no significant tachycardia. There were no changes in supine blood pressure; however, marked postural hypotension occurred after the 5‐mg dose. The administration of nabilone at doses of 1 mg or 2 mg two times daily resulted in euphoria and dry mouth during the first two days of drug; thereafter tolerance developed to these effects but there was no apparent decrease in relaxation. Subjects challenged with a single 5‐mg dose of nabilone showed a 66% reduction in symptoms and signs after the 7‐day drug period compared to that of the same dose after 1 wk of placebo. Comparison of nabilone with other cannabinol derivatives suggests that some of the undesirable pharmacologic effects can be separated within the group.