From the Research
The treatment for Synthetic Cannabinoid (SC) toxicity is primarily supportive care, focusing on monitoring and stabilizing vital signs, providing IV fluids if needed, treating symptoms as they arise, and considering activated charcoal if recent oral ingestion, as there is no specific antidote or FDA-approved medication for SC addiction. The management of SC toxicity is challenging due to the unpredictable and potentially dangerous effects of these compounds, which can be much more potent than THC and have constantly changing chemical formulations 1. The clinical manifestations of SC intoxication can include severe central nervous system and cardiovascular effects, such as agitation, delirium, toxic psychosis, seizures, and acute respiratory failure 2. In addition to supportive care, patients with SC toxicity may require pharmacologic treatment, such as benzodiazepines for anxiety and agitation, and antipsychotics for hallucinations 2. It is essential to educate patients about the risks of SC use and provide long-term substance use counseling for recovery, as there is no FDA-approved medication specifically for synthetic cannabinoid addiction 3. Some key considerations in the management of SC toxicity include:
- Monitoring and stabilizing vital signs
- Providing IV fluids if needed
- Treating symptoms as they arise (e.g., benzodiazepines for anxiety/agitation, antipsychotics for hallucinations)
- Considering activated charcoal if recent oral ingestion
- Referring patients to addiction treatment services for ongoing substance use The constantly changing chemical formulations of SCs make treatment challenging, and clinicians need to be prepared to identify and treat symptoms of SC intoxication as incidents of toxicity continue to rise 4.