Brand name
- Cesamet®
Drug Class
- Synthetic cannabinoid
Preparations
- Capsule: 1 mg
Indications
- Anti-emetic
- Appetite inducer in HIV patients
- Pain killer
Dosing
- Can be administered 1 to 2 mg up to three times daily
Drug Interactions
Amphetamines, cocaine, other sympathomimetic agents
- Additive hypertension,
- Tachycardia
- Possibly cardiotoxicity
Atropine, scopolamine, antihistamines, other anticholinergic agents
- Additive or super-additive tachycardia,
- Drowsiness
Amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, other TCAs
- Additive tachycardia
- Hypertension
- Drowsiness
Barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ethanol, lithium, opioids, buspirone, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, other CNS depressants
- Additive
- Drowsiness
- CNS depression
Antipyrine, barbiturates
- Decreased clearance of these agents, presumably via competitive inhibition of metabolism
Theophylline
- Increased theophylline metabolism reported with smoking of marijuana;
- effect similar to that following smoking tobacco
Opioids
- Cross-tolerance and mutual potentiation
- Naltrexone
- Oral THC effects were enhanced by opioid receptor blockade.
- Alcohol:
- Increase in the positive subjective mood effects of smoked marijuana
Adverse Effects
Blood and Hematopoietic
- Leukopenia
Cardiovascular
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
Eye and Ear
- Visual disturbances
Gastrointestinal
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
Nervous System:
- Hallucinations
- CNS depression
- CNS stimulation,
- Ataxia
- Stupor
- Vertigo
- Convulsion
- Circumoral paresthesia
Psychiatric:
- Somnolence
- Confusion
- Euphoria
- Depression
- Dysphoria
- Depersonalization
- Anxiety
- Psychosis
- Emotional lability
Miscellaneous and Ill:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Abnormal thinking
- Chest pain
- Lack of effect
- Face edema
Warning
- The effects of Cesamet may persist for a variable and unpredictable period of time following its oral administration. Adverse psychiatric reactions can persist for 48 to 72 hours following cessation of treatment.
- Cesamet has the potential to affect the CNS, which might manifest itself in dizziness, drowsiness, euphoria “high”, ataxia, anxiety, disorientation, depression, hallucinations and psychosis.
- Cesamet can cause tachycardia and orthostatic hypotension.
- Because of individual variation in response and tolerance to the effects of Cesamet, patients should remain under supervision of a responsible adult especially during initial use of Cesamet and during dose adjustments.
- Patients receiving treatment with Cesamet should be specifically warned not to drive, operate machinery, or engage in any hazardous activity while receiving Cesamet.