Anxiolytic (clinical)

In clinical pharmacology, an anxiolytic is a compound that reduces pathological anxiety. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the cannabis-derived constituent with the most consistent anxiolytic signal: Bergamaschi et al. (2011, Neuropsychopharmacology) reported that a single 600 mg oral dose reduced anxiety during a simulated public-speaking test in treatment-naïve social anxiety disorder (SAD) patients, and Blessing et al. (2015, Neurotherapeutics) synthesized preclinical and human data supporting acute anxiolytic activity, proposed to involve 5-HT1A agonism, TRPV1 modulation, and indirect endocannabinoid effects via FAAH inhibition. Dose–response appears non-monotonic (inverted-U), with an approximate 300 mg optimum in healthy volunteers. THC shows biphasic, dose-dependent effects — anxiolytic at low doses and anxiogenic at higher doses — making it unsuitable as a monotherapy anxiolytic. NASEM 2017 rated the evidence for cannabis or cannabinoids improving anxiety symptoms as limited (restricted largely to CBD in SAD). → See also: CBD, Anxiolytic (Part 5 consumption sense).