Tachycardia
/tak-ih-KAR-dee-uh/
Abnormally rapid heart rate (>100 bpm). Acute THC use reliably causes tachycardia through CB1-mediated sympathetic activation.
In Depth
THC-induced tachycardia is one of the most consistent pharmacological effects of cannabis, occurring in virtually all naive users. Heart rate increases by 20–100% within minutes of THC exposure, peaking at 15–30 minutes and returning to baseline within 2–3 hours. Tolerance to tachycardia develops with chronic use. In patients with coronary artery disease, tachycardia increases myocardial oxygen demand and can precipitate angina or myocardial infarction. Beta-blockers can prevent THC-induced tachycardia but may have other interactions.
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