Are Alcohol Anti-relapsing and Alcohol Withdrawal Drugs Useful in Cannabinoid Users?

Neurotox Res. 2016 Nov;30(4):698-714. doi: 10.1007/s12640-016-9655-z. Epub 2016 Aug 2.

Abstract

Cannabinoids are still classified as illegal psychoactive drugs despite their broad and increasingly acknowledged therapeutic potential. These substances are most famous for their wide recreational use, particularly among young adults to either alter the state of consciousness, intensify pleasure induced by other psychoactive substances or as an alternative to the previously abused drugs. It is important to emphasize that cannabinoids are often taken together with a variety of medications intended for the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) or alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS). These medications include disulfiram, acamprosate, and naltrexone. In this paper, we summarize recent advances in the knowledge of possible beneficial effects and interactions between cannabinoids and drugs commonly used for treatment of AUD and AWS either comorbid or existing as a separate disorder.

Keywords: Alcohol abstinence; Alcohol withdrawal drugs; Cannabinoid; Interactions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Deterrents / pharmacology
  • Alcohol Deterrents / therapeutic use*
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Animals
  • Drug Interactions
  • Ethanol / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Marijuana Abuse / drug therapy*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Alcohol Deterrents
  • Ethanol