The debate over the use of marijauna as a medicine has been going on for decades. But most recently medical marijauna has gained momentum as a virtuous treatment. Now many pharmacuetical companies are in heavy research and development to create pills that respond in the body similarly to the active component in marijuana, THC.
New research was presented this month supporting the use of pharmaceutical cannabinoids as an adjunctive cancer treatment.
Patients with cancer who are undergoing the conventional treatments including chemotherapy and radiation suffer from a variety of side effects, most of which severely decrease the quality of life.
The most common complaints are nausea, lack of appetite, fatigue, depression, and insomnia. Medical marijuana has been shown to improve many of these side effects, and now cannabinoid drugs are being tested.
The recent study followed the effects of nabilone, a cannabinoid, on side effects in 139 cancer patients.
Each person filled out questionaires about the occurance of side effects listed above and also were asked to comment on pain.
The medication significanlty reduced fatigue, nausea, pain, depression, and lack of appetite compared to placebo.
The results were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium this winter.
A benefit of using the pharmaceutical drug over medical marijuana is lack of damaging effects that can occur. Many patients may also prefer the pill form versus using actual marijuana because of the negative social stigma attached to use of pot.
Practitioners should use these medications in cancer treatment patients, especially when response to traditional anti-nausea medications is poor. There are several choices approved by the FDA on the market today.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on December 27, 2006 03:36 PM
