Antidepressant increases "brain's own Cannabis"

[Tafari]

Antidepressant increases "brain's own Cannabis"

Contributed by Simon

12.14.2005

A new antidepressant drug has been found to raise levels of endocannabinoids—the "brain's own cannabis."

Research reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests the drug, called URB597, could be a safer alternative to cannabis for treating pain and depression.

Preclinical laboratory tests found that URB597 increased production of endocannabinoids by blocking their degradation, which provided measurable antidepressant effects.

"This is the first time it has been shown that a drug that increases endocannabinoids in the brain can improve your mood," says study lead investigator Gabriella Gobbi of MUHC and Université de Montréal.

A news release reports:

Endocannabinoids are chemicals released by the brain under certain conditions, like exercise; they stimulate specific brain receptors that can trigger feelings of well-being. The researchers, which included scientists from the University of California at Irvine, were able to measure serotonin and noradrenaline activity as a result of the increased endocannabinoids, and also conducted standard experiments to gauge the 'mood' of their subjects and confirm their findings.

"The results were similar to the effect we might expect from the use of commonly prescribed antidepressants, which are effective on only around 30% of the population," explains Dr. Gobbi. "Our discovery strengthens the case for URB597 as a safer, non-addictive, non-psychotropic alternative to cannabis for the treatment of pain and depression and provides hope for the development of an alternate line of antidepressants, with a wider range of effectiveness."

Cannabis has been known for its anti-depressant and pain-relief effects for many years, but the addictive nature and general health concerns of cannabis use make this drug far from ideal as a medical treatment. The active ingredient in cannabis—THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)—stimulates cannabinoid receptors.

http://www.betterhumans.com/News/5029/Default.aspx