Cannabidiol, the active ingredient in VERSÉA, naturally occurs in the cannabis and hemp plants. The source of cannabidiol used in VERSÉA is industrial hemp. Cannabidiol is a white to pale yellow crystalline solid. It is insoluble in water and is soluble in organic solvents.

VERSÉA (cannabidiol) products come in a number of formulations. The tincture is a semi-clear, water-soluble oral liquid formulation at concentrations of 110mg/1ml for the 3,300mg tincture, 40mg/1ml for the 1,200mg tincture and 20mg/1ml for the 600mg tincture. The salve stick provides 500mg in the 1oz easy application topical formulation and capsules contain 25mg/gel cap. All formulations are broad spectrum, ensuring no THC, are non-GMO, organic and manufactured using pro-absorption technology.

Metabolism

Cannabidiol is metabolized by cytochrome p450 (CYP) enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C19. At clinically relevant concentrations, cannabidiol has the potential to inhibit CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 and may induce or inhibit CYP1A2 and CYP2B6. Cannabidiol inhibits uridin5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 ^1,2.

Drug Interactions

Cannabidiol may increase serum concentrations of macrolides, calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines, cyclosporine, sildenafil (and other PDE5 inhibitors), antihistamines, haloperidol, antiretrovirals, and some statins (atorvastatin and simvastatin, but not pravastatin or rosuvastatin) and other drugs metabolized by CYP3A4. Drugs such as ketoconazol, itraconazol, ritonavir, and clarithromycin inhibit this enzyme, leading to slower CBD degradation, and can consequently lead to higher CBD doses that are longer medically active. In contrast, phenobarbital, rifampicin, carbamazepine, and phenytoin induce CYP3A4, causing reduced CBD bioavailability³.

References.

1. Yamaori et al 2011. Potent inhibition of human cytochrome P450 3A isoforms by cannabidiol: role of phenolic hydroxyl groups in the resorcinol moiety. Life Sci 2011 Apr 11;88(15-16):730-6
2. Stout and Cimino 2014. Exogenous cannabinoids as substrate inhibitors and inducers of human drug metabolizing enzymes ; a systemic review. Drug Metab Rev 2014 Feb;46(1):86-95
3. Fugh-Berman et al. Medical Cannabis Adverse Effects & Drug Interactions Presentation by: Govt of the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) 2015 www.doh.dc.gov