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Cardiovascular effects of intravenous delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol: Autonomic nervous mechanisms
Author(s) -
Benowitz Neal L.,
Rosenberg Jon,
Rogers Walter,
Bachman John,
Jones Reese T.
Publication year - 1979
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/cpt1979254440
Subject(s) - propranolol , atropine , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , medicine , heart rate , autonomic nervous system , stimulation , anesthesia , forearm , vascular resistance , sympathetic nervous system , pharmacology , blood pressure , hemodynamics , receptor , cannabinoid , surgery
The contribution of autonomic nervous system activity to the cardiovascular effects of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was evaluated in 4 normal subjects. The peak heart rate rise after THC was attenuated by atropine and by propranolol, and nearly abolished by atropine‐propranolol pretreatment. Blocking drugs also attenuated THC‐induced changes in forearm blood flow and vascular resistance but did not affect changes in fingertip temperature. The data suggest that THC acts to induce sympathetic stimulation and parasympathetic inhibition of cardiovascular control pathways. Cardiovascular responses in an additional subject who developed hypertension after either intravenous or smoked marijuana are described.