title: Postural syncope after marijuana: a transcranial Doppler study of the hemodynamics.
abstract: Twenty-nine volunteers participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Cerebral blood velocity (CBV), pulse rate, blood pressure (BP), skin perfusion (SP) on forehead and plasma delta9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels were quantified during reclining and standing for 10 min before and after THC infusions and marijuana smoking. Both THC and marijuana induced postural dizziness, with 28% reporting severe symptoms. Intoxication and dizziness peaked immediately after drug. The severe dizziness group showed the most marked postural drop in CBV and BP and showed a drop in pulse rate after an initial increase during standing. Postural dizziness was unrelated to plasma levels of THC and other indices.
authors.affiliation: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 800 West 4th Street, Odessa, TX 79763, USA. roy.matthew@TTUHSC.edu
authors.forename: Roy J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002188:Cannabis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D013575:Syncope / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
chemical_list: D013759:Dronabinol