Select Page

CBD In Treatment of Alzheimers, Addictions and Mood Disorders
Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes LPC-MHSP, LMHC, CCDRC
Executive Director: AllCEUs
Host: Counselor Toolbox and Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery Podcasts

Sponsored by TherapyNotes.com
Manage your practice securely and efficiently. Two free months of TherapyNotes with coupon code “CEU”

Secure email provided by https://www.protonmail.com

Continuing education Credits for this podcast are available at https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/1308/c/

CBD In Treatment of Alzheimer’s, Addictions and Mood Disorders
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes

Objectives
– CBD and Addiction
– CBD and mental health issues
– CBD and neurodegenerative issues
– CBD adverse events, toxicity and drug interactions

CBD and Substance Use Disorder
– Cannabidiol's Promise for Treatment of Substance Use Disorder
– Recent models implicate major brain circuits involved in reward saliency, motivation, and memory/learned associations in maintaining addiction (7). Critically, these circuits may largely be modulated by the endocannabinoid system (ECS)
– Endocannabinoid system (ECS) modulates dopamine
– Alcohol, Nicotine and THC all increase dopamine release via nerve terminals modulated by the ECS
– ECS (Including receptor CB1R) represents a necessary contributor toward cellular adaptations in the transition from recreational substance use to a use disorder
– ECS-mediated synaptic plasticity may facilitate emotional learning and memory processes increasing emotional response to substance-related cues
– Antagonism of CB1R reduces alcohol-induced sensitization and nicotine relapse
– CBD is non-rewarding, and acts on a number of receptor systems including the opioid, serotonergic and cannabinoid (CB1R antagonist) systems.
– Systemically administered CBD regulates mesolimbic DA activity, and potentially attenuate substance-induced dysregulation
– Treatment with CBD blocked the rewarding effects of morphine and heroin and prevented drug and stress-induced reinstatement of conditioned place preference (CPP) lasting up to 2 weeks post-administration

CBD and Alcoholism
– CBD reduces
– The overall level of alcohol intake
– Motivation for ethanol
– Anxiety
– Impulsivity
– Alcohol-related steatosis and fibrosis in the liver by reducing lipid accumulation, stimulating autophagy, modulating inflammation
– Oxidative stress, and by inducing death of activated hepatic stellate cells.
– Alcohol-related brain damage, preventing neuronal loss by its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties.
Stimulant Use Disorders
– CBD has reversed
– Toxicity and seizures induced by cocaine
– Behavioural sensitization induced by amphetamines
– Motivation to self-administer cocaine and METH
– CBD also increased the extinction of cocaine- and amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP)
– Mechanisms involved in the protective effects of CBD on addiction to psychostimulant drugs include
– Prevention of drug-induced neuroadaptations
– Erasure of aberrant drug-memories
– Elimination of cognitive deficits induced by psychostimulant drugs
– Alleviation of mental disorders comorbid with psychostimulant abuse
Cannabis and Mental Health Disorders
– Anxiety, social anxiety , depression (esp anxiety related) reduction
– CBD has many additional targets within and beyond the endocannabinoid system, including activation of 5-HT receptors, –adrenoceptors and –opioid receptors
– CBD has opposite effects of THC in the Prefrontal Cortex and amygdala
– CBD, either as monotherapy or added to regular antipsychotic medication, improved symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, with promising effects in the early stages of illness
PTSD
– 91% experienced a decrease in PTSD symptom severity, as evidenced by a lower PCL-5 score at 8 weeks than at their initial baseline. T
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
– Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid which is helpful as an anxioxidant to reduce oxidative stress, an anti-inflammatory and an agonist of dopamine and serotonin
– Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are both characterized by inflammation and oxidative stress.
– CBD is also helpful in patients with epilepsy, restless legs and multiple sclerosis
– CBD did not negatively alter cardiovascular parameters, body temperature, psychomotor, psychological functions, nor did it induce catalepsy (trance or seizure like state) like delta-9-THC
Alzheimer’s and Dementia
– Based on its pharmacology (Russo and Marcu, 2017),CBD may be useful for
– Agitation
– Anxiety
– Psychosis
– Aggression
– Depression
– Pain
– Neuroprotection
– Reduced A-plaque formation
Inflammation
– Pain
– Autoimmune
Cannabidiol Adverse Effects and Toxicity
– CBD AEs at doses higher than recommended for human consumption included
– Developmental toxicity
– Embryo-fetal mortality
– Central nervous system inhibition
– Neurotoxicity
– Hepatocellular injuries & hepatic abnormalities
– Spermatogenesis reduction
– Male reproductive system alterations
– Hypotension
– Diarrhea, vomiting
– Fatigue
CBD Adverse Effects
– Cannabis and CBD use are rising amongst pregnant women. An estimated 4% – 20% of 18- to 24-year-old pregnant women reported using cannabis products
– CBD inhibits embryo implantation and placenta development
– Prenatal cannabinoid exposure potentiates the teratogenic effects of alcohol increasing the risk of the development of FASDs and craniofacial malformations and eye defects
Cannabidiol Adverse Effects and Toxicity
– Drug-drug interactions
– Drugs with the grapefruit warning
– Steroids and corticosteroids (asthma, arthritis and inflammatory conditions)
– Statins (cholesterol)
– Calcium channel blockers (blood pressure)
– Antihistamines
– HIV antivirals & immune modulators
– Benzodiazepines
– Antidepressants medications and herbs (acting on serotonin or dopamine)
– Anticonvulsants (i.e. Clonazepam)
– Beta-blockers (blood pressure)
– Proton-pump inhibitors (stomach acid)
– Oral diabetic medications

Summary
– CBD is showing promise as an alternative or adjunctive treatment for a variety of ailments ranging from Alzheimer’s and Addiction to Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia.
– CBD does not have the psychogenic effects that THC does, however, THC has been found to be more effective at addressing some issues
– OTC CBD is nonstandardized so dosages, even from the same manufacturer, but in different lots may have different potencies
– CBD interacts with most medications, so it is vital to consult a physician prior to using it.
– Dosages of CBD in the literature varied widely.
– Currently there are a couple CBD based medications for the treatment of seizure disorder
– CBD oils also may have a trace of THC in them—again, in OTC formulations, it may be variable, but supposed to be less than 0.3%