Cannabis Compound Abuse Medication

  • Author: Lawrence Genen, MD, MBA; Chief Editor: David Bienenfeld, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 15, 2012
 

Medication Summary

Short-term, low-dose benzodiazepines for treatment of significant anxiety associated with acute intoxication has been used. Clinicians are advised to use caution when administering benzodiazepines for the treatment of cannabis-induced anxiety, as the anxiety will invariable resolve with no medication over a short period of time. Drug therapies that diminish cravings for marijuana or intoxicating effects from marijuana use are currently not available.

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Anxiolytics

Class Summary

These agents depress all levels of CNS, which, in turn, reduces anxiety symptoms.

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Lorazepam (Ativan)

 

Treatment of acute marijuana-associated panic or anxiety symptoms. Monitor vital signs carefully after administration. Watch for respiratory depression, ataxia, and somnolence/excess sedation. Amnesia may follow administration. Effects usually last 5-8 h after administration. Sedative hypnotic with short onset of effects and relatively long half-life. Increasing the action of GABA, which is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, may depress all levels of CNS, including limbic and reticular formation. When patient must be sedated for more than a 24-h period, this medication is excellent.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Lawrence Genen, MD, MBA  Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

John Franzen, MD  Resident Physician, Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska-Creighton University

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

William F Haning III, MD, FASAM, DFAPA  Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Graduate Affairs, Office of the Dean, Program Director, Addiction Psychiatry/Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawaii, John A Burns School of Medicine; Principal Investigator and Co-Director, Pacific Addiction Research Center

William F Haning III, MD, FASAM, DFAPA is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Society of Addiction Medicine, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and Hawaii Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Barry I Liskow, MD  Professor of Psychiatry, Vice Chairman, Psychiatry Department, Director, Psychiatric Residency Program, University of Kansas School of Medicine; Director, Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, The University of Kansas Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Harold H Harsch, MD  Program Director of Geropsychiatry, Department of Geriatrics/Gerontology, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Department of Medicine, Froedtert Hospital, Medical College of Wisconsin

Harold H Harsch, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Psychiatric Association

Disclosure: lilly Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sunovion Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Otsuke Grant/research funds reseach; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

David Bienenfeld, MD  Professor of Psychiatry, Vice-Chair and Director of Residency Training, Department of Psychiatry, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine

David Bienenfeld, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and Association for Academic Psychiatry

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors Robert C Daly, MB, ChB, MPH, BCh; Can M Savasman, MD; Caroline Fisher, MD, PhD; and Lina Cassandra Vawter, MD to the development and writing of this article.

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Cannabis sativa.
The major psychoactive component of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
 
 
 
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