What Is CBD And How Does It Work?

MOUD (Medications for Opioid Use Disorder) is an important tool for people who are addicted to opioids. This pharmacological component's efficacy in treatment has been demonstrated in numerous studies. To date, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three drugs to treat opioid use disorder (OUD): methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.

One or more of these three drugs are included in all brand-name MOUD prescriptions. Bunavail, Belbuca, Subutex, Suboxone, Naltrexone (Vivitrol), Sublocade, and Zubsolv are all common brand names. There are a multitude of alternative drugs and substances that people use off-label to self-treat OUD and/or opioid withdrawal symptoms in addition to FDA-approved MOUDs. Cannabidiol (CBD), what it is, and how it works in the context of OUD are discussed in this article.

What Is CBD and How Does It Work?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is the second most common active component in cannabis. It's a single chemical discovered in the marijuana plant. CBD, unlike marijuana, has no psychoactive effects. As a result, people do not experience euphoria or a "high" when using it. CBD's medicinal potential have piqued people's interest in recent years.

While several CBD products have become widely available, the FDA has only approved one CBD-based drug. Epidiolex, which was approved by the FDA in 2018, comprises a highly refined version of CBD. It is used to treat seizures in people aged one year and up who have Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet Syndrome (DS), or Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC). Apart from Epidiolex, no other CBD drugs have been approved by the FDA. Despite the current surge in popularity of CBD and CBD-related products, further clinical research and scientific investigations are needed to confirm the substance's safety profile.

What Is CBD's Role in the Treatment of OUD?

CBD may play a function in the treatment of OUD, according to recent research. There is, however, little clinical evidence to back up this claim.

According to proponents of CBD, its accessibility is the most important component in its potential success. This is in response to the availability of FDA-approved and evidence-based drugs like Suboxone through certified providers. CBD is also said to lessen the severity of cravings associated with opioid withdrawal.

CBD has been shown to aid with anxiety and insomnia, two common side effects of opioid withdrawal. As a result, CBD products could be beneficial in addressing the negative effects of opiate withdrawal. There is not enough clinical evidence to clearly support this allegation, as there is with all other CBD claims in the context of OUD. Furthermore, because CBD is offered as a supplement, the FDA has no jurisdiction over the doses, potency, or quality of the goods. Several CBD manufacturers have come under federal scrutiny in recent years, causing the FDA to issue warning letters to a number of them.

Although there may be successful techniques of using CBD to treat OUD, the paucity of clinical studies on humans makes this dubious. CBD is not recommended for people who are addicted to opioids, according to Suboxone clinic. FDA-approved MOUDs, such as Suboxone, have been thoroughly researched, tested, and confirmed to be safe. Evidence-based treatments, unlike CBD, have been shown to be the safest and most effective approach of treating OUD.