Cannabinoids respiratory

Vivian JA, Kishioka S, Butelman ER, Broadbear J, Lee KO, Woods JH. (1998). Analgesic, respiratory, and heart rate effects of cannabinoid and opioid agonists in rhesus monkeys antagonist effects of SR 141716A. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 286(2) 697-703. 

Cannabinoids Hashish Marijuana Psychoactive drugs with mixed (stimulant and depressant] activity Smoked possible oral ingestion Initial response euphoria, excitement, increased perception later response relaxation, stupor, dreamlike state Endocrine changes (decreased testosterone in males] and changes in respiratory function similar to chronic ... 

The above results show that it is possible to achieve complete dissociation between cannabimimetic effect and analgetic action.These preliminary results may be of considerable therapeutic value because cannabinoids generally lack many of the side effects of opiates, such as high addiction liability and respiratory depression. 

Cannabinoids are able to cause different effects at the level of various systems and/or organs the most important effects occur on the central nervous system and on the cardiovascular system. In fact, they are able to affect mood, memory, motor coordination and cognition, and they increase heart rate and variate the systemic arterial pressure. Furthermore, it is well known the capability of cannabinoids to reduce intraocular pressure and to affect the respiratory and endocrine systems (L. E. Hollister, Health Aspects of Cannabis, Pharmacological Reviews, 38,1-20,1986). More recently, it was found that they suppress the cellular and humoral immune response and have antiinflammatory properties (A. W. Wirth et al.. Antiinflammatory Properties of Cannabichromene, Life Science, 26,1991-1995,1980). 

The CBi cannabinoid receptor is the major mediator of the psychoactive effects of cannabis and its derivatives. In addition, this G protein-coupled receptor transduces many of the effects of the endogenous cannabinoids. Understanding the distribution of CBi receptors has proved helpful to both predict and understand the effects of cannabinoids. For example, the high CBi receptor levels found in cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum coincide with the prominent effects cannabinoids have on functions subserved by these brain regions. By comparison, the low levels present in the medullary nuclei responsible for regulating respiration are consistent with the modest effects cannabinoids have on respiratory drive. Furthermore, the strong presynaptic localization of the receptor found in ultra-structural studies underscores its major role as a modulator of neurotransmitter release. 

Expression of CB, receptors in brainstem is relatively low. In contrast to the opioid receptors, few cannabinoid receptors are found in the medullary respiratory control centers (Herkenham et al. 1991 Glass et al. 1997). This likely underlies... 

Cannabinoid agonists are especially advantageous in pain management due to a relative lack of toxicity, with reported deaths from overdose rare to nonexistent. This is attributable to their low potential for respiratory depression because of the lack of CB receptors in the respiratory center of the brainstem. When used adjunctively, they are opioid-sparing and thereby reduce the risk of respiratory depression by opioids. In addition, A -THC stimulates beta endorphin production, delays development of tolerance to opioids, and limits withdrawal symptoms from opioids. 

---