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Lausanne (pte021/01.04.2005/11:00) - Medicines based on cannabis can cause paranoia and anxiety in some people, according to a new study. As the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk reports, Swiss researchers found that two out of eight men given drugs containing THC, a chemical extracted from cannabis, developed psychotic effects. According to the team of researchers from the University of Lausanne http://www.unil.ch , the public needs to be aware that cannabis medicine could have side effects. At present, the possibility of using THC to treat multiple sclerosis and pain relief is being explored.
Over the course of the study, one man reacted to dronabinol, which is licensed for medical use in the US as it is a synthetic, and another to a liquid form of natural THC, as reported in the journal BMC Psychiatry. Within just hours of taking the drugs orally, both men started displaying psychotic symptoms. Neither had previously had any psychiatric problems. According to the report's author, Bernard Favrat, the findings are surprising as the doses used were relatively mild. "We were not expecting these results. The drugs had a great impact on the people and we have to recognise that drugs that are developed using THC have this risk. I am not saying that we should not developed them, but just that we need to proceed with caution," he said.
Previous studies have linked the use of cannabis to mental health problems. A study by New Zealand scientists, published in March, suggested that smoking cannabis virtually doubled the risk of developing mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. (newsfox reports: http://www.newsfox.com/pte.mc?pte=050301018). An MS drug containing 50 per cent THC, which is being developed by GW Pharmaceuticals, is expected to come back before regulators later this year. The firm is also developing other drugs containing THC for cancer and back pain. A spokesman for the firm said that the drugs would also contain agents, which modify the effects of THC. However, the charity DrugScope said that it did not want any cannabis-based medicines banned simply because of fears that they may produce side effects. "There is strong evidence that cannabis can help to treat a range of conditions, and if they can we are in favour of them," it said.
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