2015 Sep 30. pii: S0378-5955(15)30036-8. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2015.09.014. [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
One hypothesis suggests that tinnitus is a form of sensory epilepsy, arising partly from neuronal hyperactivity in auditory regions of the brain such as the cochlear nucleus and inferior colliculus. Although there is currently no effective drug treatment for tinnitus, anti-epileptic drugs are used in some cases as a potential treatment option. There is increasing evidence to suggest that cannabinoid drugs, i.e. cannabinoid receptor agonists, can also have anti-epileptic effects, at least in some cases and in some parts of the brain. It has been reported that cannabinoid CB1 receptors and the endogenous cannabinoid, 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), are expressed in the cochlear nucleus and that they are involved in the regulation of plasticity. This review explores the question of whether cannabinoid receptor agonists are likely to be pro- or anti-epileptic in the cochlear nucleus and therefore whether cannabinoids and Cannabis itself are likely to make tinnitus better or worse.
Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.
KEYWORDS:
cannabidiol (CBD); cannabinoid receptors; cannabinoids; delta-6-THC; tinnitus
Highlights
- • Tinnitus has been hypothesized to involved epileptiform activity.
- • Cannabinoid receptor agonists can have anti-epileptic effects.
- • Endocannabinoids and their receptors have been found in the cochlear nucleus.
- • Evidence so far suggests that cannabinoids may exacerbate tinnitus.
- PMID: 26433054
- [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]