But since late 2018, the California-based biotech has also been developing a cannabinoid called drinabant into a treatment for THC overdose but also cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a mysterious condition in which marijuana users suddenly become violently ill. In fact, one of these companies, Opiant Pharmaceuticals, already markets naloxone under the brand name Narcan. If they can get their medications off the ground, it would give emergency room doctors additional tools to treat cannabis overdose.īut some experts warn that these overdose reversal drugs can also come with some serious side effects in their own right. Several companies are working on just such a solution for THC, and they see their potential product as comparable to naloxone. To wit: naloxone is a medication that can stop an opioid overdose in mere minutes, even reversing the effects of extremely potent painkillers like carfentanil, an opioid used to sedate elephants. Some stoners become suddenly and violently ill from cannabis - and scientists aren't sure whyīut what if there were a drug that could instantly pull someone out of a cannabis overdose? After all, such drugs exist for other intoxicants, including opioids. Regardless of the driving factors, cannabis overdose can be scary, but the standard protocol in such cases is to manage symptoms or prescribe a sedative like Xanax. Not fearing arrest is a good motivator for seeking help. Part of the reason for this increase in emergency room visits is relaxed laws around marijuana can make people feel more comfortable visiting hospitals in the first place. But in some cases, they can require a hospital visit, sometimes including an overnight stay. Very rarely are these effects life-threatening and generally wear off in a few hours. Taking too much THC can trigger rapid heart rate, dizziness, nausea, paranoia, anxiety and panic attacks.

According to Allen, these antagonists are so effective that someone could take one and ingest as much cannabis as they want and they couldn't get high.Īs cannabis becomes legal in more areas, some emergency rooms are seeing more visits related to THC overdose, especially in kids that accidentally eat cannabis edibles, who can sometimes eat so much they can become comatose.

Antidote of benzodiazepine toxicity