ADHD
patients, depending
on
their own hypersensibilities and emotional history, develop a number of
chronic symptoms. Patients treated with cannabinoids report the
improvement of the following list of symptoms. Few scientific works
have adressed scientificaly this field of research
but californian
doctors have been able to evaluate efficiency and validate cannabinoids
use in a large number of ADHD cases. Dr
Bearman, practicing in Santa Barbara Area, has write some
specific articles on it.
For each symptom presented in the following list, a brief
scientific explanation is given to show the implication of
cannabinoids :
-
Hyper-impulsivity (restless, agitation,
adrenaline stress, restless legs syndrome) : THC,
the
main psycho-active phyto-cannabinoïd constituent of cannabis,
is an agonist of
endocannabinoid amandamine. It is binding to the CB1 receptors present
in large
number in the brain. It stimulates the retrograde signalling inhibition
in
neuronal synapses. Consequences are modulation and decrease of neuronal
activity, thus having a powerful calming effect associated. This
phenomena was
proven
on mice in 2003.
- Anxiety
including intestinal pains due to stressful situations
: THC
alone
his proven to be anxiolytic at low doses, but anxiogenic at higher
doses,
depending on individual tolerance. Another phyto-cannabinoïd
agent, CBD,
non
psychoactive cannabidiol, acts complementary to THC. CBD binds to a
second
category of cannabinoid receptors, CB2, which are known to be
implicated in the
neuro-immune system modulation. CBD is mainly present in hemp and
hashish, in various quantity. It
is largely known as an anti-anxiety agent. It also has the advantage to
reduce THC psychoactive and adverse effects. ADHD patients report a
very positive
effect on intestinal pains and general anxiety state when CBD
is
added to THC.
- Fears /
Panic attacks : CB1
receptors are implicated in synaptic plasticity and emotional responses
to
external stimuli. It is proven on mice that THC helps in the process of
decondionning. CB1
deficient mice exhibits abnormal impulsive and fearful
behaviour and continue to be over-stressed comparing to normal mice.
- Hypersensibility to stressful
situations, emotions, ... : same
effects
of THC/CBD as on anxiety and fear.
- Lack of
attention : THC
slowers
the ADHD brain over-activity, helping the patient to stay focused and
attentive. A clinical
case report in Germany
(2008) exposes the result
of an ADHD driver attention performances test under cannabis.
- Insomnia : THC
slowers
the brain and helps quality of sleep.
- Depressive tendency : THC
binds
to CB1 receptorswhich
have also been
identified to be involved in the release of serotonine in pre-synaptic
neurons.
Serotonine is the natural brain anti-depressant agent (case
study, Dr Blass, Austria).
- Suicidal Tendency / Death ideation
- Alcoholism Tendency : all
ADHD
patients who have been alcoholic report the efficiency of cannabis as a
substitute.
- Drugs Abuse Tendency (cocaine,
heroine, ...) : same
as
alcohol.
- Tics : THC
is
proven efficient in the treatment of Tourette
syndrome.
