Everything You Need to Know About Anxiolytics
Anti-anxiety drugs or Anxiolytics are the famous categories of drugs that are used to inhibit anxiety and to treat many anxiety associated disorders. However, these drugs can be habit-forming and rather work instantly.
Anxiolytic Properties of Cannabis and the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress
As per the recent research work, there are some links between the endocannabinoid system and PTSD.
Back in 2009, posttraumatic stress disorder was included by New Mexico among other conditions that are eligible for cannabis prescription. New Mexico was the first state to do so. After two years, nearly 2000 thousand patients were treated for PTSD.
Even if we look beyond the legal framework, there are several PTSD patients which are using cannabis. As per the large sample of adults in the U.S, people with the lifelong diagnosis of PTSD have 3 times higher chances to have used cannabis.
In fact, these differences remain unchanged even after accounting for various other drug abuse, co-occurring mood disorders and anxiety.
Considering this data, various researchers suggest that the patients with PTSD might be attempting to auto-medicate themselves by using cannabis. As per the legalization of the medical cannabis, particularly for this condition, various case reports came up with positive remarks.
One open clinical trial and one survey showed positive cannabinoids effects later on. However, there is still a lack of controlled clinical trials.
PTSD is a famous debilitating condition. It is usually developed after facing a traumatic experience and this usually occurs within three months. It is rare to takes around a year to develop and show symptoms.
The successful diagnosis of this medical condition requires symptoms like re-experiencing of different aspects of the traumatic event in the form of nightmares or flashbacks, emotional avoidance behavior, reactivity or exaggerated arousal, impaired cognitive functioning and negative mood.
The lifetime incidence of PTSD is nearly 0.8 percent. The medical condition is much more common in women than in men. In fact, the condition is linked to much higher chances of suicide and depression.
Recent Research Unveil Potential Links between Endocannabinoid System and PTSD
When cannabinoids are administered in relatively low dosages, they have shown to cause anxiolytic effects. One of the preclinical studies suggested that CBD remarkably attenuates the freezing reaction of a caged animal who had previously received several foot shocks.
CBD also showed a huge effect in reducing blood pressure and heart rate symptoms. This further suggests the CBD ability to assuage or completely eliminate the contextual fear memories effects that are of great help in the proper treatment of PTSD.
Cannabis may also curtail behaviors which are likely to be exacerbated in PTSD. As per the medical cannabis dispensary survey, in California State, 65 percent of the users were reported using cannabis more as a substitute for alcohol. This is particularly imperative in terms of PTSD that is known to be linked with alcohol abuse.
While there is still a need for more research work, it is quite interesting to observe studies which are directly investigating such links between cannabis, PTSD and various harmful behaviors.
