Tetrahydrocannabinol

Tetrahydrocannabinol Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (marketed as Marinol) is a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis (marijuana). THC demonstrates its effects through weak partial agonist activity at Cannabinoid-1 (CB1R) and Cannabinoid-2 (CB2R) receptors, which results in the well-known effects of smoking cannabis such as increased appetite, reduced pain, and changes in emotional and cognitive processes. Due to its evidence as an appetite stimulant and an anti-nauseant, Tetrahydrocannabinol is approved for use in anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS and for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments .

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two most abundant cannabinoids found naturally in the resin of the marijuana plant, both of which are pharmacologically active due to their interaction with cannabinoid receptors that are found throughout the body . While both CBD and THC are used for medicinal purposes, they have different receptor activity, function, and physiological effects. If not provided in their activated form (such as through synthetic forms like Tetrahydrocannabinol or Nabilone), THC and CBD are obtained through conversion from their precursors, tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (THCA-A) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), through decarboxylation reactions. This can be achieved through heating, smoking, vaporization, or baking of dried unfertilized female cannabis flowers.

From a pharmacological perspective, Cannabis' diverse receptor profile explains its potential application for such a wide variety of medical conditions. Cannabis contains more than 400 different chemical compounds, of which 61 are considered cannabinoids, a class of compounds that act upon endogenous cannabinoid receptors of the body . The endocannabinoid system is widely distributed throughout the central and peripheral nervous system (via the Cannabinoid Receptors CB1 and CB2) and plays a role in many physiological processes such as inflammation, cardiovascular function, learning, pain, memory, stress and emotional regulation, and the sleep/wake cycle among many others . CB1 receptors are found in both the central and peripheral nervous system, and are most abundant in the hippocampus and amygdala, which are the areas of the brain responsible for short-term memory storage and emotional regulation. CB2 receptors are mainly located in the peripheral nervous system and can be found on lymphoid tissue where they are involved in regulation of immune function .

Tetrahydrocannabinol
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Tetrahydrocannabinol
Availability	Prescription only
Generic	Dronabinol
Dronabinol Other Names	delta-9-THC, delta(9)-THC, Dronabinol, Dronabinolum, Tetrahydrocannabinol
Related Drugs	lorazepam, ondansetron, Zofran, dexamethasone, Ativan, metoclopramide, cyproheptadine, megestrol, Marinol, Megace
Type
Formula	C₂₁H₃₀O₂
Weight	Average: 314.4617 Monoisotopic: 314.224580204
Protein binding	The plasma protein binding of dronabinol and its metabolites is approximately 97%.
Groups	Approved, Illicit
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer
Available Country
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Tetrahydrocannabinol is a synthetic delta-9-THC used in the treatment of anorexia and weight loss in HIV patients as well as nausea and vomiting in cancer chemotherapy.

For the treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS, and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments

Tetrahydrocannabinol is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Anorexia, weight loss, AIDS, Nausea and vomiting

How Tetrahydrocannabinol works

Tetrahydrocannabinol is a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis (marijuana). THC demonstrates its effects through weak partial agonist activity at Cannabinoid-1 (CB1R) and Cannabinoid-2 (CB2R) receptors, which results in the well-known effects of smoking cannabis such as increased appetite, reduced pain, and changes in emotional and cognitive processes.

Food Interaction

Avoid alcohol.
Take with or without food. The absorption is unaffected by food.

[Moderate] GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of CNS-active agents.

Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and
MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving CNS-active agents should be warned of this interaction and advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol.

Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities.

Tetrahydrocannabinol Drug Interaction

Moderate: diphenhydramine, diphenhydramine, fentanyl, fentanyl, pregabalin, pregabalin, alprazolam, alprazolamUnknown: polyethylene glycol 3350, polyethylene glycol 3350, esomeprazole, esomeprazole, acetaminophen, acetaminophen, cyanocobalamin, cyanocobalamin, cholecalciferol, cholecalciferol, ondansetron, ondansetron

Tetrahydrocannabinol Disease Interaction

Moderate: seizures, cardiac disease, psychoses/depression, substance abuse

Volume of Distribution

Tetrahydrocannabinol has a large apparent volume of distribution, approximately 10 L/kg, because of its lipid solubility.

Elimination Route

Tetrahydrocannabinol capsules are almost completely absorbed (90 to 95%) after single oral doses. Due to the combined effects of first pass hepatic metabolism and high lipid solubility, only 10 to 20% of the administered dose reaches the systemic circulation. After oral administration, dronabinol has an onset of action of approximately 0.5 to 1 hours and peak effect at 2 to 4 hours. Following BID dosing of 2.5mg of dronabinol, Cmax was found to be 1.32ng/mL with a median Tmax of 1.00 hr.

Half Life

The elimination phase of dronabinol can be described using a two compartment model with an initial (alpha) half-life of about 4 hours and a terminal (beta) half-life of 25 to 36 hours.

Clearance

Values for clearance average about 0.2 L/kg-hr, but are highly variable due to the complexity of cannabinoid distribution.

Elimination Route

Tetrahydrocannabinol and its biotransformation products are excreted in both feces and urine. Because of its large volume of distribution, dronabinol and its metabolites may be excreted at low levels for prolonged periods of time. Following single dose administration, low levels of dronabinol metabolites have been detected for more than 5 weeks in the urine and feces.