Codeine Cannabinoids

Increased appetite is frequently attributed to smoking marijuana. Cannabinoids are effective antiemetics, particularly in treating emesis arising during chemotherapy. A -THC has been reported to be as effective as codeine as an analgesic, although pronounced behavioral effects occur with analgesic doses. 

Among the long list of diverse structures reported to possess central antitussive activity is Ahtetrahydrocannabinol (THC) [1972-08-3] (68), the principal psychoactive component of marijuana (see PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICALAGENTS). This compound was found to be comparable to codeine against electrically induced cough in the anesthetized cat (90). Two other naturally occurring cannabinoids, cannabidiol and cannabinol, are inactive. 

Cannabinoids are no more effective than codeine in controlling pain and have depressant effects on the central nervous system that limit their use. Their widespread introduction into clinical practice for pain management is therefore undesirable. In acute postoperative pain they should not be used. Before cannabinoids can be considered for treating spasticity and neuropathic pain, further valid randomised controlled studies are needed. 

Cichewicz DL, Rubo A, Welch SP (2003) Recovery of morphine- and codeine-induced antinociception by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinoL lnt Cannabinoid Res Soc 13th Annu Symp Cannabinoids, Abstr 40... 

It was not until the late 18th and early 19th centuries that an analytical investigation of the active components of medicinal plants and herbal remedies was pursued. This resulted in the discovery of alkaloids such as atropine, morphine, codeine, and papaverine, which eventually became the major constituents of many modem analgesic and cardiac medicines. The discovery of aspirin (from Willow bark), the cannabinoids (from cannabis sct- ya), and digitalis (from foxglove leaf) also came many years, in some cases thousands of years, after these remedies were being used for pain relief, sedation, and dropsy (5-9). 

Amphetamine and related substances (G) Amphetamine (I) Methamphetamine (I) Barbiturates (G, I) Benzodiazepines (G, I) Cannabinoids (G, I) Methadone/metabolites (G, I) Cocaine/metabolites (G, I) Methaqualone/metabolites (G, I) Opiates (G) Codeine (I) Dihydrocodeine (I) Morphine (I) Phencyclidine/metabolites (G, I) Propoxyphene/metabolites (G, I) Tricyclic antidepressants (G, I)... 

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