Comparison of Cannabinoid Concentrations in Plasma, Oral Fluid and Urine in Occasional Cannabis Smokers After Smoking Cannabis Cigarette

Authors

  • Amélie Marsot Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Pharmacovigilance, AP-HM, Pharmacologie intégrée et interface clinique et industrielle, Institut des Neurosciences Timone – AMU-CNRS 7289, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille.
  • Christine Audebert Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Pharmacovigilance, AP-HM, Pharmacologie intégrée et interface clinique et industrielle, Institut des Neurosciences Timone – AMU-CNRS 7289, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille.
  • Laurence Attolini Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Pharmacovigilance, AP-HM, Pharmacologie intégrée et interface clinique et industrielle, Institut des Neurosciences Timone – AMU-CNRS 7289, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille.
  • Bruno Lacarelle Service de Pharmacocinétique Toxicocinétique, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
  • Joelle Micallef Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Pharmacovigilance, AP-HM, Pharmacologie intégrée et interface clinique et industrielle, Institut des Neurosciences Timone – AMU-CNRS 7289, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille.
  • Olivier Blin Service de Pharmacologie Clinique et Pharmacovigilance, AP-HM, Pharmacologie intégrée et interface clinique et industrielle, Institut des Neurosciences Timone – AMU-CNRS 7289, Aix Marseille Université, 13385 Marseille.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18433/J3F31D

Abstract

Purpose. A randomized cross-over, double blind placebo controlled study of smoked cannabis was carried out on occasional cannabis smokers. The objective of this research was to describe the pharmacokinetic parameters of THC and its metabolites in plasma, oral fluid and urine, from samples obtained simultaneously to provide estimations of THC and metabolites concentrations after smoking a cannabis cigarette. Methods. Blood, oral fluid and urine samples were collected until up to 72 h after smoking the cannabis cigarette (4% of delta-9-tetrathydrocannabinol (THC)). THC, 11-OH-THC and THC-COOH were analyzed by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated from these data. Results. Eighteen male healthy adults participated in the study. In total, 560 plasma, 288 oral fluid and 448 urine samples were quantified for cannabinoids. Plasma, oral fluid and urine pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. A wide range of median THC Cmax (1.6-160.0 µg/L and 55.4-123120.0 µg/L in plasma and oral fluid, respectively), 11-OH-THC Cmax (0-11.1 µg/L in plasma) and THC-COOH Cmax (1.0-56.3 µg/L in plasma) was observed. When expressed as a percentage of the total available THC dose, and corrected for molar equivalents, mean percentage of total THC dose excreted was 1.9 +/-2.5 % with range of 0.2-7.5%. This high inter-individual variability was also observed on other calculated pharmacokinetic parameters. Conclusion. Prediction of plasma THC concentration from THC oral fluid concentration or from THC-COOH urinary concentrations is not feasible due to the large variations observed. The results from this study support the assumption that a positive oral fluid THC result or a positive urine fluid result are indicative of a recent cannabis exposure.

 

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Published

2016-10-28

How to Cite

Marsot, A., Audebert, C., Attolini, L., Lacarelle, B., Micallef, J., & Blin, O. (2016). Comparison of Cannabinoid Concentrations in Plasma, Oral Fluid and Urine in Occasional Cannabis Smokers After Smoking Cannabis Cigarette. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 19(3), 411–422. https://doi.org/10.18433/J3F31D

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 3 (2016)

Section

Pharmaceutical Sciences; Review Articles

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