title: Antiemetic efficacy of levonantradol compared to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
abstract: The antiemetic efficacy of im levonantradol, a synthetic cannabinoid, given at a dose of 1 mg every 4 hours, was compared to oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) given at a dose of 15 mg every 4 hours in a double-blind crossover study. Twenty-six patients receiving emetogenic cancer chemotherapy were evaluated. For each drug, 28% of treated patients had no nausea. The median number of emetic episodes with levonantradol was 2.0 versus 3.0 for THC (P = 0.06). Side effects occurred in 91.7% and 97.3% of levonantradol and THC patients, respectively, with drowsiness and dizziness most commonly seen. Side effects were generally well-tolerated, with only 13.9% of levonantradol and 21.6% of THC patients discontinuing treatment because of side effects. Levonantradol appears to be at least as effective an antiemetic as THC and is the only cannabinoid available for parenteral use.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Citron
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vreeland
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Krasnow
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Fossieck
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harwood
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010617:Phenanthridines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010617:Phenanthridines; D013759:Dronabinol; C025490:nantradol