Cannabidiol, Tetrahydrocannabinol
Cannabidiol (CBD), Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Nausea
Cannabis has long been held as a beneficial treatment for cancer patients in relieving many unpleasant symptoms that are related to the disease. Early studies into animal models revealed that the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) slowed the growth of tumors in mice with different forms of cancer. These findings were not widely publicized, but pharmaceutical companies have since tried to replicate the findings in trials of their own. Still, most of the focus on TCH and cancer has been placed on chemotherapy and alleviating its symptoms including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and malaise. Furthermore, studies reveal that the non-psychoactive compound cannabidiol (CBD) …show more content…
However, in a human phase II clinical trial which evaluated the cannabis based oral medicine Sativex (contain a 1:1 ratio of Delta-9-THC and CBD), patients not only tolerated the drug when compared to placebo patients, but incidences of delayed vomiting were also reduced, proving that a combination of THC and CBD may very well be effective in managing nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. In the U.S, Sativex is still awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but British GW Pharmaceuticals is in phase III U.S. clinical trials evaluating its efficacy in remedying cancer …show more content…
The downside to Dronabinol is that it can be difficult for patients to swallow, especially those who have bad bouts of vomiting that irritates the throat. Furthermore, digestion is slow, which delays the response. Additionally, another drug Nabiximols, a cannabis oral spray of THC and CBD extracts combined, has been effective in treating pain in cancer patients, but the drug has not been approved in the U.S. However, clinical trials are currently being conducted to evaluate its efficacy in treating a number of conditions (some related to cancer). Research also suggests that the combined administration of both CBD and THC may enhance their therapeutic potency in a way that each could not separately. This is an area that warrants additional research since THC combined with other cannabis compounds could prove beneficial in treating the symptoms of other ailments other than
Cannabis has long been held as a beneficial treatment for cancer patients in relieving many unpleasant symptoms that are related to the disease. Early studies into animal models revealed that the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) slowed the growth of tumors in mice with different forms of cancer. These findings were not widely publicized, but pharmaceutical companies have since tried to replicate the findings in trials of their own. Still, most of the focus on TCH and cancer has been placed on chemotherapy and alleviating its symptoms including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and malaise. Furthermore, studies reveal that the non-psychoactive compound cannabidiol (CBD) …show more content…
However, in a human phase II clinical trial which evaluated the cannabis based oral medicine Sativex (contain a 1:1 ratio of Delta-9-THC and CBD), patients not only tolerated the drug when compared to placebo patients, but incidences of delayed vomiting were also reduced, proving that a combination of THC and CBD may very well be effective in managing nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. In the U.S, Sativex is still awaiting approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but British GW Pharmaceuticals is in phase III U.S. clinical trials evaluating its efficacy in remedying cancer …show more content…
The downside to Dronabinol is that it can be difficult for patients to swallow, especially those who have bad bouts of vomiting that irritates the throat. Furthermore, digestion is slow, which delays the response. Additionally, another drug Nabiximols, a cannabis oral spray of THC and CBD extracts combined, has been effective in treating pain in cancer patients, but the drug has not been approved in the U.S. However, clinical trials are currently being conducted to evaluate its efficacy in treating a number of conditions (some related to cancer). Research also suggests that the combined administration of both CBD and THC may enhance their therapeutic potency in a way that each could not separately. This is an area that warrants additional research since THC combined with other cannabis compounds could prove beneficial in treating the symptoms of other ailments other than