| Title | Central side-effects of therapies based on CB(1) cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists: focus on anxiety and depression. | | Author(s) | Moreira FA, Grieb M, Lutz B | | Institution | Department of Physiological Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, 55099 Mainz, Germany. | | Source | Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009 Feb; 23(1):133-44. | | Abstract | Both agonists (e.g. Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, nabilone) and antagonists (e.g. rimonabant, taranabant) of the cannabinoid type-1 (CB(1)) receptor have been explored as therapeutic agents in diverse fields of medicine such as pain management and obesity with associated metabolic dysregulation, respectively. CB(1) receptors are widely distributed in the central nervous system and are involved in the modulation of emotion, stress and habituation responses, behaviours that are thought to be dysregulated in human psychiatric disorders. Accordingly, CB(1) receptor activation may, in some cases, precipitate episodes of psychosis and panic, while its inhibition may lead to behaviours reminiscent of depression and anxiety-related disorders. The present review discusses these side-effects, which have to be taken into account in the therapeutic exploitation of the endocannabinoid system. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 19285266 |
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