Chest
Volume 70, Issue 4, October 1976, Pages 480-485
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Clinical Investigations
Effect of Oral Administration of Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Airway Mechanics in Normal and Asthmatic Subjects

https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.70.4.480Get rights and content

We performed a double-blind study on the effect of oral administration of 10 mg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on specific airway conductance (Gaw/VL) and the maximal expiratory flow at 50 percent of vital capacity ($$max 50%) in six control and six asthmatic subjects. In control subjects, there was a slight but statistically significant increase in Gaw/VL after oral administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; however, there was no significant increase in $$max 50%. One of the asthmatic patients developed severe bronchoconstriction following administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; among the remaining five patients, there were variable changes in Gaw/VL and Vmax 50% after oral administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, but mean changes were not significant. Mild effects on the central nervous system (CNS) were observed in three subjects; six subjects, three of whom had unpleasant mood changes, had more prominent CNS effects. We concluded that oral administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol is unlikely to be of therapeutic value in asthma, since its bronchodilator action was mild and inconstant and was associated with significant CNS effects. Moreover, one asthmatic patient developed severe bronchoconstriction following oral administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

Section snippets

Materials and Methods

Table 1 shows the physical characteristics and smoking histories of the six control subjects and the six asthmatic subjects diagnosed according to the standards of the American Thoracic Society.4 Among the control subjects, none was currently a heavy cigarette smoker; among the asthmatic patients, two (subjects A3, and A4) were cigarette smokers. All asthmatic subjects were clinically stable at the time of inclusion in the study; they continued to receive their usual medications but were asked

Results

Table 1 shows the baseline data for pulmonary function obtained on the day when the capsule was given to control and asthmatic subjects. Baseline data for pulmonary function and heart rates for all subjects were similar on both days of testing. The $$max50% and Gaw/VL were within normal limits in control subjects, except for subject C6, who was an ex-smoker and had a past history of winter bronchitis; he and two other control subjects (C1 and C2) also had an increased RV. All asthmatic patients

Discussion

In this study, we found mild but significant changes in Gaw/VL in six control subjects following oral administration of 10 mg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; however, changes in $$max50% were not significantly greater than after administration of placebo. Our results are comparable to those obtained by Tashkin and coworkers3 in 12 experienced marihuana smokers who had significant increases in Gaw/VL at 1, 1½, 4, and 5 hours following oral administration of 10 mg of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; however,

Acknowledgments

Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and placebo capsules were supplied by the National Institutes of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md.

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    Supported by an RODA grant from Health and Welfare, Canada.

    Manuscript received January 19; revision accepted April 20.

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