CBD prevented cocaine relapse and reversed cocaine-induced hyperactivity and memory problems in mice | Research

The takeaway

In mice, CBD prevented cocaine-induced relapse to drug-seeking behavior, abolished cocaine hyperactivity, and reduced memory deficits during withdrawal, without having rewarding properties itself.

Addiction researchers and clinicians interested in novel cocaine use disorder treatments.

CBD prevented cocaine relapse without producing rewarding effects itself

What the researchers found

CBD (30-120mg/kg) did not produce rewarding effects on its own and did not affect cocaine reward acquisition, expression, or extinction. However, when given during the extinction phase, CBD at 30 and 60mg/kg prevented priming-induced reinstatement of cocaine-seeking. CBD also abolished cocaine-induced hyperactivity without affecting normal movement. At 120mg/kg, CBD reduced memory deficits from cocaine withdrawal but did not reverse depressive-like symptoms.

Why it matters

Cocaine addiction has no FDA-approved pharmacotherapy. CBD preventing relapse to cocaine-seeking (the most clinically relevant finding) without producing its own reward signal is a promising therapeutic profile.

The numbers in context

CBD doses: 30, 60, 120mg/kg. No rewarding properties at any dose. Relapse prevention: 30 and 60mg/kg effective. Hyperactivity: abolished at tested doses. Memory deficit improvement: 120mg/kg. Depression-like symptoms: no effect.

How the study worked

Three studies in male C57BL/6J mice: (1) conditioned place preference for cocaine reward and relapse; (2) cocaine-induced locomotor stimulation; (3) cocaine withdrawal symptoms (memory and depression tests). CBD doses: 30, 60, and 120mg/kg injected intraperitoneally.

What this study cannot tell us

Mouse model. Intraperitoneal administration. High doses relative to body weight. Cannot assess subjective craving. Male mice only. Short-term testing.

How to read the evidence

Well-controlled preclinical study with multiple behavioral paradigms. Preliminary because findings are in mice only.

When this study was published

2021 preclinical study from Spain.

The bigger picture

The selectivity of CBD effects is notable: it did not interfere with cocaine reward itself but specifically prevented relapse after abstinence. This suggests CBD might be most useful as a maintenance treatment during recovery rather than during active use.

Questions still open

Would CBD prevent relapse in human cocaine users? What is the optimal timing and duration of CBD treatment during recovery? Why did CBD help memory but not depression during withdrawal?

Common questions

Can CBD help with cocaine addiction?

In this mouse study, CBD prevented relapse to cocaine-seeking when given during the abstinence period, without producing rewarding effects itself. This is promising but needs to be tested in humans.

Does CBD block the effects of cocaine?

Not exactly. CBD did not prevent cocaine from producing reward or alter its acquisition. Instead, CBD specifically prevented relapse after the cocaine reward had been extinguished, suggesting it works on the relapse mechanism rather than blocking cocaine directly.

Read the original research

Cannabidiol prevents several of the behavioral alterations related to cocaine addiction in mice.

Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 111, 110390

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Ledesma, Juan Carlos; Manzanedo, Carmen; Aguilar, María A. (2021). Cannabidiol prevents several of the behavioral alterations related to cocaine addiction in mice.. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 111, 110390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2021.110390