[Epub ahead of print]
The role of the endocannabinoid system in nicotine addiction is being increasingly acknowledged. We conducted a pilot, randomised double blind placebo controlled study set out to assess the impact of the ad-hoc use of cannabidiol (CBD) in smokers who wished to stop smoking. 24 smokers were randomised to receive an inhaler of CBD (n=12) or placebo (n=12) for one week, they were instructed to use the inhaler when they felt the urge to smoke. Over the treatment week, placebo treated smokers showed no differences in number of cigarettes smoked. In contrast, those treated with CBD significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by ~40% during treatment. Results also indicated some maintenance of this effect at follow-up. These preliminary data, combined with the strong preclinical rationale for use of this compound, suggest CBD to be a potential treatment for nicotine addiction that warrants further exploration.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cannabidiol reduces cigarette consumption in tobacco smokers: Preliminary findings.
Source
Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: c.morgan@ucl.ac.uk.
Abstract
The role of the endocannabinoid system in nicotine addiction is being increasingly acknowledged. We conducted a pilot, randomised double blind placebo controlled study set out to assess the impact of the ad-hoc use of cannabidiol (CBD) in smokers who wished to stop smoking. 24 smokers were randomised to receive an inhaler of CBD (n=12) or placebo (n=12) for one week, they were instructed to use the inhaler when they felt the urge to smoke. Over the treatment week, placebo treated smokers showed no differences in number of cigarettes smoked. In contrast, those treated with CBD significantly reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by ~40% during treatment. Results also indicated some maintenance of this effect at follow-up. These preliminary data, combined with the strong preclinical rationale for use of this compound, suggest CBD to be a potential treatment for nicotine addiction that warrants further exploration.Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- PMID:
23685330
[PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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Highlights
- •We examined whether cannabidiol could impact on cigarette consumption.
- •Ad hoc use of CBD but not placebo reduced cigarette consumption over a week.
- •Drugs that alter the endocannabinoid system may be effective treatments for nicotine addiction.
Figures and tables from this article:
- Fig. 1. CBD treatment reduces cigarette consumption in smokers.
- Table 1. Baseline and pre- and post-treatment data following CBD and placebo.
- TCQ: Tiffany Craving Scale; MRS: Mood Rating Scale.
- View Within Article
- Table 2. Pre- and post-treatment data following CBD and placebo.
- TCQ: Tiffany Craving Scale; MRS: Mood Rating Scale.
- View Within Article
- Corresponding author at: Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Clinical Health Psychology, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. Tel.: + 44 20 7679 1932; fax: + 44 20 7916 1989.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23685330
