Cannabidiol is an active cannabinoid used as an adjunctive treatment for the management of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome and symptomatic relief of moderate to severe neuropathic pain or other painful conditions, like cancer. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of at least 85 active cannabinoids identified within the Cannabis plant.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 2 references
The exact mechanism of action of CBD and THC is not currently fully understood. However, it is known that CBD acts on cannabinoid (CB) receptors of the endocannabinoid system, which are found in numerous areas of the body, including the peripheral and central nervous systems, including the brain. The endocannabinoid system regulates many physiological responses of the body including pain, memory, appetite, and mood. More specifically, CB1 receptors can be found within the pain pathways of the brain and spinal cord where they may affect CBD-induced analgesia and anxiolysis, and CB2 receptors have an effect on immune cells, where they may affect CBD-induced anti-inflammatory processes.
CBD has been shown to act as a negative allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, the most abundant G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) in the body. Allosteric regulation of a receptor is achieved through the modulation of the activity of a receptor on a functionally distinct site from the agonist or antagonist binding site. The negative allosteric modulatory effects of CBD are therapeutically important as direct agonists are limited by their psychomimetic effects while direct antagonists are limited by their depressant effects.
- Primary indication
- When used in combination with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol as the product Sativex, cannabidiol was given a standard marketing authorization (ie. a Notice of Compliance (NOC)) by Health Canada for the following indications: 1) as adjunctive treatment for...Curator reviewed · 6 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C21H30O2 · 314.469 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2024 · United States, 2018 · European Union, 2020
- Also known as
- .DELTA.1(2)-TRANS-CANNABIDIOL
- Code names
- GWP-42003 · GWP-42003-P
- Brand names
Resolves to
QHMBSVQNZZTUGM-ZWKOTPCHSA-NSMILESCCCCCC1=CC(O)=C([C@@H]2C=C(C)CC[C@H]2C(C)=C)C(O)=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Cannabidiol, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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