JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole)
Prototypical synthetic cannabinoid (Spice/K2), representative of the entire synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) class. Full CB1 and CB2 agonist (4-5x higher affinity than THC, full agonist vs. THC's partial agonism). This full agonism at CB1 explains the severe toxicity — seizures, psychosis, hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and death — that distinguishes SCRAs from natural cannabis. Extensive CYP metabolism to multiple active metabolites. >99% protein bound. Mass casualty events (e.g., New York "zombie" outbreak 2016) have occurred from batches spiked with SCRAs. Unpredictable potency and toxicity make these among the most dangerous recreational drugs.
Projected serum levels — 1 mg, as needed (shown daily)
Maintenance schedule: 1 mg as needed (shown daily) (smoked).
Modeled steady state after ~1 days: peak ≈ 0.41 mg, trough ≈ 0.001 mg body load. Population-based estimate over 15 days for a 1 mg dose at a 70 kg reference body mass — the interactive app scales curves to your doses, timing, and body mass.
Key facts
- Category
- Cannabinoid
- Route modeled
- Smoked
- Model confidence
- inferred
- Half-life
- 2.5 h
- Common dose
- 1 mg
- Suggested maximum
- 3 mg/day
- Reference dose range
- 0.50–3 mg (single dose)
- Suggested cadence
- as needed (shown daily)
Documented interactions
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danger
Efavirenz (Sustiva) + JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole)
Efavirenz (Sustiva) inducer of CYP3A4 predicted to change JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) AUC by ~0.38x
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danger
Levothyroxine (Synthroid) + JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole)
JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) may displace Levothyroxine (Synthroid) from plasma protein binding sites, transiently raising free drug concentration. This drug has a narrow therapeutic…
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danger
Rifampin + JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole)
Rifampin inducer of CYP3A4 predicted to change JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) AUC by ~0.38x
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danger
Tacrolimus (Prograf) + JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole)
JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) may displace Tacrolimus (Prograf) from plasma protein binding sites, transiently raising free drug concentration. This drug has a narrow therapeutic index;…
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danger
Warfarin (Coumadin) + JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole)
JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) may displace Warfarin (Coumadin) from plasma protein binding sites, transiently raising free drug concentration. This drug has a narrow therapeutic index;…
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warning
Apigenin + JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole)
Apigenin may displace JWH-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) from plasma protein binding sites, transiently raising free drug concentration.
Serum checks 225 modeled interaction pairings for jwh-018 (1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole) across your whole stack — absorption conflicts, enzyme inhibition, and nutrient depletion included.
Research behind this entry
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Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists — a review of the clinical pharmacology and toxicology
Comprehensive clinical review documenting the pharmacology of SCRAs including JWH-018 as the prototypical compound, their full CB1/CB2 agonism (vs THC partial agonism) as the mechanism of severe toxicity, and the range…
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Notes from the Field: "Zombie" Outbreak Caused by Synthetic Cannabinoid — New York, 2016
CDC report documenting a mass casualty event in Brooklyn, New York, where 33 people were hospitalized after consuming synthetic cannabinoid-spiked material, exhibiting "zombie-like" behavior (severe CNS depression…
2 published studies referenced in the app, each with a plain-language summary.