Pilot investigation of the quantitative EEG and clinical effects of ketazolam and the novel antiemetic nonabine in normal subjects.

Nonabine is a chromenol structurally related to the cannabinoids which has shown antiemetic efficacy in clinical trials. Oral doses of 5, 10, and 15 mg were given to healthy volunteers in a crossover study with the benzodiazepine ketazolam, 30 and 45 mg. Ketazolam produced sedative effects, with decreased quantitative EEG alpha activity and increased beta activity. Nonabine also produced sedative clinical effects, but with an EEG profile which resembled that reportedly caused by cannabinoids. In contrast to cannabinoids, nonabine did not cause changes of mood or perception, suggesting that nonabine lacks the potential for social abuse at antiemetic doses.

PMID: 2860687 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]