Ibuprofen Can Reduce High From Marijuana: Mouse Study

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen can reduce the high created by marijuana, a new study in mice suggests. The research could have implications for studying marijuana as a treatment for people with Alzheimer’s disease, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Marijuana can calm inflammation in the brain, a hallmark of some neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, the article notes. However, the high the drug creates can have a negative effect on brain cells and memory.

The study found these unwanted side effects can be suppressed by using anti-inflammatory drugs including ibuprofen or COX-2 inhibitors such as Celebrex. Taking these drugs allowed the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, to produce anti-inflammatory effects, while extinguishing the high of the drug, as well as the lethargy and negative effects on memory.

The findings appear in the journal Cell.