A prospective evaluation of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol as an antiemetic in patients receiving adriamycin and cytoxan chemotherapy.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral and smoked delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was performed in eight patients with resected soft tissue sarcomas who received adjuvant Adriamycin and Cytoxan chemotherapy. Each patient served as his own control. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, in comparison with a placebo, did not significantly reduce the number of vomiting and retching episodes, volume of emesis, degree of nausea, or duration of nausea. In contrast to a previous report where significant antiemetic effects of THC were observed in patients receiving high-dose methotrexate, THC did not effectively reduce emesis induced by Adriamycin and Cytoxan. These findings suggest that the antiemetic properties of THC are effective only against specific chemotherapeutic drugs.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy
D000932:Antiemetics; D013759:Dronabinol; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide