Evaluation of Cytochrome P450-Mediated Cannabinoid-Drug Interactions in Healthy Adult Participants

Understanding cannabis-drug interactions is critical given regulatory changes that have increased access to and use of cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD) and & UDelta;-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (?9-THC), the most abundant phytocannabinoids, are in vitro reversible and time-dependent (CBD only) inhibitors of several cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Cannabis extracts were used to evaluate quantitatively potential pharmacokinetic cannabinoid-drug interactions in 18 healthy adults. Participant received, in a randomized cross-over manner (separated by =1 week), a brownie containing (i) no cannabis extract (ethanol/placebo), (ii) CBD-dominant cannabis extract (640 mg CBD + 20 mg ?9-THC), or (iii) ?9-THC-dominant cannabis extract (20 mg & UDelta;9-THC and no CBD). After 30 minutes, participants consumed a cytochrome P450 (CYP) drug cocktail consisting of caffeine (CYP1A2), losartan (CYP2C9), omeprazole (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), and midazolam (CYP3A). Plasma and urine samples were collected (0-24 hours). The CBD + ?9-THC brownie inhibited CYP2C19 > CYP2C9 > CYP3A > CYP1A2 (but not CYP2D6) activity, as evidenced by an increase in the geometric mean ratio of probe drug area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) relative to placebo (AUC(GMR)) of omeprazole, losartan, midazolam, and caffeine by 207%, 77%, 56%, and 39%, respectively. In contrast, the ?9-THC brownie did not inhibit any of the CYPs. The CBD + ?9-THC brownie increased ?9-THC AUC(GMR) by 161%, consistent with CBD inhibiting CYP2C9-mediated oral & UDelta;9-THC clearance. Except for caffeine, these interactions were well-predicted by our physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model (within 26% of observed interactions). Results can be used to help guide dose adjustment of drugs co-consumed with cannabis products and the dose of CBD in cannabis products to reduce interaction risk with & UDelta;9-THC.