PHARMACOLOGY FACULTY
Selected Publications
  • McMahon, L.R., Li JX, Carroll FI, France CP (2008) Some effects of dopamine transporter and receptor ligands on discriminative stimulus, physiologic, and directly observable indices of opioid withdrawal in rhesus monkeys. Psychopharmacology (in press).
  • McMahon, L.R., (2008) Apparent affinity estimates of rimonabant in combination with anandamide and chemical analogs of anandamide in rhesus monkeys discriminating Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Psychopharmacology (in press).
  • Li JX, McMahon LR, Gerak LR, Becker GL, France CP (2008) Interactions between Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and mu opioid receptor agonists in rhesus monkeys: discrimination and antinociception. Psychopharmacology (in press).
  • Li JX, McMahon, LR, France CP (2008) Comparison of naltrexone, 6alpha-naltrexol, and 6beta-naltrexol in morphine-dependent and in nondependent rhesus monkeys. Psychopharmacology 195:479-86.
  • McMahon, L.R., Ginsburg BC, Lamb RJ (2007) Cannabinoid agonists differentially substitute for the discriminative stimulus effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in C57BL/6J mice. Psychopharmacology 198:487-495.
  • McMahon, LR, & Koek W (2007) Differences in the relative potency of SR 141716A and AM 251 as antagonists of various in vivo effects of cannabinoid agonists in C57BL/6J mice. Eur J Pharmacol 569:70-76.
  • McMahon LR, Javors MA, France CP (2007) Changes in relative potency among positive GABAA receptor modulators upon discontinuation of chronic benzodiazepine treatment in rhesus monkeys. Psychopharmacology 192:135-145.
  • McMahon, LR (2007) Discriminative stimulus effects of the cannabinoid CB1 antagonist SR 141716A in rhesus monkeys pretreated with Δ9-tetrahydroconnabinol. Psychopharmacology 188:306-314.
Lance McMahon
 

Lance McMahon

Assistant Professor of Pharmacology
Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Office: 210-567-0143
Email: mcmahonl@uthscsa.edu

 

View video introduction to Dr. McMahon's lab

 

Keywords

KEYWORDS

 

Research Summary

Drug dependence can have devastating consequences not only for the dependent individual, but also for family, friends, public health, and society. Developing effective therapies for drug dependence requires an understanding of the environmental, behavioral, and pharmacologic determinants responsible for drug use. Research in my laboratory integrates principles of behavior and receptor theory to identify mechanisms in the nervous system responsible for the abuse liability of sedative-hypnotics, opioids, and cannabinoids.

 

Cannabis use, in particular, has received considerable scrutiny. From the perspective of public health, cannabis appears to have some therapeutic value on the one hand and deleterious effects on performance and quality of life on the other. Current research emphasizes:

 

1) Mechanism(s) of cannabinoid action. The effects of cannabis that lead to its self-administration are hypothesized to be mediated by a common mechanism at a particular cannabinoid receptor subtype. Results of ongoing studies suggest that a single mechanism does not account for the behavioral effects of cannabinoids.

 

2) Dependence that results from chronic cannabinoid treatment. Learned behavior is being used to better understand the neuropharmacology of cannabis dependence, as defined by withdrawal upon discontinuation of cannabinoid treatment, and to identify medicines that might alleviate withdrawal in those seeking to achieve abstinence in the clinic.