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Adverse effects after the use of JWH‐210 – a case series from the EU Spice II plus project
Author(s) -
HermannsClausen Maren,
Kithinji Josephine,
Spehl Marco,
Angerer Verena,
Franz Florian,
Eyer Florian,
Auwärter Volker
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
drug testing and analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.065
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1942-7611
pISSN - 1942-7603
DOI - 10.1002/dta.1936
Subject(s) - medicine , nausea , bradycardia , adverse effect , anesthesia , vomiting , blood pressure , tachycardia , hypokalemia , somnolence , heart rate
Since 2009, more than 140 different synthetic cannabinoids (SC) have been identified in herbal mixtures consumed as recreational drugs. Knowledge of the acute toxicity of each individual compound remains sparse. Here we present a retrospective observational case series of patients presenting to emergency departments with analytically confirmed intake of JWH‐210 as the only SC detected in serum samples. Cases were selected from a poison centre database from March 2011 to June 2014. In total, 22 patients were included (aged 12–25 years, median 17.5; 18 males 4 female). JWH‐210 was identified in the serum samples in concentrations ranging from 0.18 to 90 ng/mL. Tachycardia, nausea, somnolence, hypokalemia, hypertension, restlessness, and/or agitation were most frequently reported. Diplopia, seizures, syncope, and ECG changes such as T‐wave inversion and bradycardia were also noted. Acute adverse effects of JWH‐210 typically include central nervous system depression or cerebral seizures, but also signs of sympathomimetic toxicity. Nausea was reported in 80% and typically shows a sudden onset shortly after inhalation, suggesting a central nervous effect possibly mediated by CB 1 receptors. Cardiovascular effects are reported in up to 80% of the patients and might not only include alterations in blood pressure and heart rate, but also changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG). JWH‐210 as a representative of a strong CB 1 receptor agonist confirms previous reports about adverse effects of SC, but shows a distinct quantitative pattern of symptoms, compared to several other SC. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.