3. Umbruch 4.4..2005 - Online Pot

Cannabinoids in appetite and obesity 227
cannabinoid agonist ∆ 9 -THC is indeed already used as a therapeutic agent to
treat anorexia and cachexia associated with severe illness such as AIDS or cancer.
New synthetic CB 1 agonists may be of therapeutic value for this therapeutic
application if they are able to associate higher potency with a reduction
of the side effects linked to the psychotropic effects of ∆ 9 -THC.
On the other hand, the opposite, anorectic effect of cannabinoid antagonists
offers an important potential for the treatment of obesity, a condition which
has become a major health problem in developed countries. In this respect, the
results obtained in clinical studies with rimonabant (SR-141716), the first
cannabinoid antagonist, are extremely encouraging. Moreover, based on preliminary
pharmacological studies, CB 1 antagonists may also be useful for the
treatment of alcoholism, and in smoking cessation. Clinical studies with
rimonabant have already shown increased tobacco-smoking abstinence as well
as prevention of the secondary weight gain often associated with smoking cessation
[42, 59]. In any case, more research is needed to fully understand the
complex role of the cannabinoid system in the regulation of feeding and
body-weight control, a biological function which is particularly complex and
involves interactions with many different biochemical messengers.
References
1 Abel EL (1975) Cannabis: effects on hunger and thirst. Behav Biol 15: 255–281
2 Bonney RC (2002) Obesity: sizing up the market. Scrip Reports, PJB Publications, Richmond
3 Cota D, Marsicano G, Lutz B, Vicennati V, Stalla GK, Pasquali R, Pagotto U (2003) Endogenous
cannabinoid system as a modulator of food intake. Int J Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders:
J International Association for the Study of Obesity 27: 289–301
4 Abel EL (1971) Effects of marihuana on the solution of anagrams, memory and appetite. Nature
231: 260–261
5 Mattes RD, Engelman K, Shaw LM, Elsohly MA (1994) Cannabinoids and appetite stimulation.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav 49: 187–195
6 Gagnon M, Elie R (1975) Effects of marijuana and D-amphetamine on the appetite, food consumption
and various cardio-respiratory variables in man. Union Med Can 104: 914–921
7 Foltin RW, Fischman MW, Byrne MF (1988) Effects of smoked marijuana on food intake and
body weight of humans living in residential laboratory. Appetite 11: 1–14
8 Hollister L (1971) Hunger and appetite after single doses of marihuana, alcohol, and dextroamphetamine.
Clin Pharmacol Ther 12: 44–49
9 Plasse TF, Gorter RW, Krasnow SH, Lane M, Shepard KV, Wadleigh RG (1991) Recent clinical
experience with dronabinol. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 40: 695–700
10 Volicer L, Stelly M, Morris J, McLaughlin JVBJ (1997) Effects of dronabinol on anorexia and disturbed
behavior in patient with Alzeihmer’s disease. Int J Geriat Psychiat 12: 913–919
11 Beal JE, Olson R, Laubenstein L, Morales JO, Bellman P, Yangco B, Lefkowitz L, Plasse TF,
Shepard KV (1995) Dronabinol as a Treatment for Anorexia Associated with Weight Loss in
Patients with AIDS. J Pain Symptom Manage 10: 89–97
12 Beal JE, Olson R, Lefkowitz L, Laubenstein L, Bellman P, Yangco B, Morales JO, Murphy R,
Powderly W, Plasse TF (1997) Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Dronabinol for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Associated Anorexia. J Pain Symptom Manage 14: 7–14
13 Timpone J, Wright D, Li N, Egorin M, Enama M, Mayers J, Galetto G (1999) The safety and
pharmacokinetics of single-agent and combination therapy with megestrol acetate and dronabinol
for the treatment of HIV wasting syndrome. In: G Nahas, K Sutin, D Harvey, S Agurel (eds):
Marihuana and medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 701–706
14 Abrams DI, Hilton JF, Leiser RJ, Shade SB, Elbeik TA, Aweeka FT, Benowitz NL, Bredt BM,