Cannabis-based drugs have been explored for a range of medical conditions over the past decades. Multiple sclerosis spasticity and seizures are among the cases where we have promising results. But what about cancer patients? To highlight the National CBD Day on this August 8th, let’s discuss the current evidence supporting the use of cannabis drugs for cancer patients, particularly for symptoms such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and chronic pain.
What is Cannabis?
Cannabis sativa L. is a plant containing over 80 different naturally occurring compounds known as cannabinoids. Two well-known cannabinoids are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is psychoactive, which means it changes how your brain works. It’s the ingredient in marijuana that makes you feel high. CBD isn’t psychoactive, so it doesn’t make you high.
When discussing the pharmaceutical use of cannabis, it is also important to differentiate between cannabis-related compounds and cannabis-derived compounds. Cannabis-related compounds are naturally occurring in the plant and are extracted directly to manufacture drug products. In contrast, cannabis-derived compounds are synthetic and created in a laboratory from the natural ones.
Using cannabis to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
For example, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) have been effectively managed using cannabis-derived compounds like dronabinol (Marinol®/Syndros®) and nabilone (Cesamet®). Both of these medications are derived from the THC and have received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for patients who have not adequately responded to conventional antiemetic treatments. Even though these medications come with some side effects, they have been used as a therapy option for the past decades.
Using cannabis to treat cancer pain
However, the discussion becomes more complex when it comes to chronic pain management. There is no cannabis-derived approved medicine for this indication, so it is usually used in the form of inhalation, oils, sprays or tablets containing active cannabis ingredients. Studies and systematic reviews over the past decades have produced inconsistent results. Up to this moment, there are no double-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical trials with large sample sizes that either reject or prove the efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of chronic cancer pain management.
Additionally, in most of the studies that we have to this moment, cannabis is used as an adjunct therapy. This means that patients are also taking conventional painkillers such as opioids, and the goal of the trials is to evaluate if cannabis can reduce the consumption of opioids. In general, these trials suggest that cannabis may have some potential benefits, but the side effects and long-term effects need to be considered. So, for cancer-related chronic pain, despite having some promising results, much needs to be done until we get to a recommendation or clinical guideline.
Cannabis-based drugs have a potential but more research needs to be done
The exploration of cannabis-based drugs for medical conditions has yielded promising results, particularly in managing symptoms such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and chronic pain. While cannabis-derived compounds like dronabinol and nabilone have proven effective for CINV, the use of cannabis for chronic pain remains contentious and requires further research and clinical guidelines. Additionally, recent studies on CBD highlight its potential not only for symptom management but also as a possible treatment for certain cancers. Although still in early stages, the ongoing research and recognition by institutions like the American Cancer Society suggest a future where cannabis-based therapies could play a role in cancer treatment. Continued research and careful consideration of the benefits and risks will be essential in advancing the medical application of these drugs.
If you’re interested in testing cannabis-based products, talk to your Medical Team to get their advice on your individual case.
Written By Luis Guilherme
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