Synthetic cannabinoids
Background
- Common names: spice, K2, Moon Rocks, Blue Lotus, many others
- Active ingredients: cannabicyclohexano, JWH-018, JWH-073, HU-210, XLR-11, others
- Far more potent than THC (100-800x)
- Cannabinoid receptor agonists (CB1 or CB2)
- Do not show up as marijuana on routine tox testing
- Generally smoked, but can be drank as a tea
Clinical Features
- Similar effect to marijuana at low doses, but may be more intense and cause an acute agitated delerium
- Typical effects 10-30 min and taper over 1-2 hours
- Tachycardia and hypertension common (distinguishing it from MJ use)
- Adverse effects: nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, agitation, deli
- Use has been associated with AKI and acute cerebral ischemia.[1][2]
Differential Diagnosis
Sympathomimetics
- Cocaine
- Amphetamines
- Synthetic cathinones (khat)
- Ketamine
- Ecstasy (MDMA)
- Synthetic cannabinoids
- Bath salts
Drugs of abuse
- 25C-NBOMe
- Alcohol
- Amphetamines
- Bath salts
- Cocaine
- Ecstasy
- Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
- Heroin
- Inhalant abuse
- Hydrocarbon toxicity
- Difluoroethane (electronics duster)
- Marijuana
- Kratom
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
- Psilocybin ("magic mushrooms")
- Synthetic cannabinoids
- Chloral hydrate
- Body packing
Treatment
- Supportive
- Benzodiazepines
- Zofran
See Also
References
- ↑ Buser GL, Gerona RR, Horowitz BZ, et al. Acute kidney injury associated with smoking synthetic cannabinoid. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014;52(7):664–73.
- ↑ Takematsu M, Hoffman RS, Nelson LS, Schechter JM, Moran JH, Wiener SW. A case of acute cerebral ischemia following inhalation of a synthetic cannabinoid. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2014;52(9):973–5.