Proof of concept for high-dose Cannabidiol pretreatment to antagonize opioid induced persistent apnea in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioid related fatalities remain a public health crisis in the US. Currently, the only way to restore breathing following an opioid induced persistent apnea is with the administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone, but it also reverses analgesia, euphoria, and induces precipitated withdrawal in opioid dependent individuals.

Methods

Using whole-body plethysmography, we assessed changes in breathing frequency in awake behaving mice resulting from a single fentanyl dose (50 mg/kg i.p.) that followed i.p. pretreatment with saline, vehicle, naloxone (100 mg/kg), cannabidiol (CBD) (250 mg/kg), or CBD + naloxone. Then we assessed the delay to opioid-induced persistent apnea (OIPA) and the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of fentanyl during a continuous i.c.v. inf

SUBMITTER: Wiese BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12540426 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature