Premium
Cannabis Coadministration Potentiates the Effects of “Ecstasy” on Heart Rate and Temperature in Humans
Author(s) -
Dumont GJ,
Kramers C,
Sweep FC,
Touw DJ,
Hasselt JG,
Kam M,
Gerven JM,
Buitelaar JK,
Verkes RJ
Publication year - 2009
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 - 10.1038/clpt.2009.62
Subject(s) - mdma , ecstasy , pharmacology , heart rate , catecholamine , cannabinoid , norepinephrine , delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol , hallucinogen , cannabis , drug , tetrahydrocannabinol , δ9 tetrahydrocannabinol , medicine , chemistry , dopamine , receptor , blood pressure , psychiatry
This study assessed the acute physiologic effects over time of (co)administration of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9‐THC) (the main psychoactive compound of cannabis) and 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or “ecstasy”) in 16 healthy volunteers. Pharmacokinetics and cardiovascular, temperature, and catecholamine responses were assessed over time. Both single‐drug conditions robustly increased heart rate, and coadministration showed additive effects. MDMA increased epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations, whereas THC did not affect the catecholamine response. Coadministration of MDMA and THC attenuated the increase of norepinephrine concentrations relative to administration of MDMA alone. These results show that THC mediates heart rate increase independent of sympathetic (catecholaminergic) activity, probably through direct cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB 1 ) agonism in cardiac tissue. Furthermore, THC coadministration did not prevent MDMA‐induced temperature increase, but it delayed the onset and prolonged the duration of temperature elevation. These effects may be of particular relevance for the cardiovascular safety of ecstasy users who participate in energetic dancing in nightclubs with high ambient temperature. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2009); 86 , 2, 160–166 doi: 10.1038/clpt.2009.62