Medicinal Cannabis for Cancer
Keywords:
cannabis, cancer, pain, nausea, vomiting, chemotherapyAbstract
There has been a misunderstanding about the use of cannabis for the treatment of cancer, cancer-related symptoms and chemotherapy-induced adverse effects. To encourage the rational medical use of cannabis, this article aimed to provide information regarding cannabis and cancer emphasizing on medical pharmacology, evidence-based medicine, limitations in animal studies and clinical trials, side effects and withdrawal syndromes, and recommendations on its uses in end-state cancer patients. It was found that no cannabis compounds were effective in cancer inhibition in human studies. No statistical significances on the benefits for pain and appetite have been found in cancer patients. Dronabinol and nabilone, the two single synthetic compounds of the natural delta-9-THC, were effective in and thus indicated for alleviating nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy. Cannabis and cannabinoids showed synergistic effects with chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil. They could help improve the quality of life for advanced-stage cancer patients. Consequently, they should be delivered correctly with the right dose, strength, and dosage form under the supervision of trained medical practitioners and pharmacists. Frequent side effects of cannabis included bradycardia, hypotension, dizziness, loss of coordination, muscle weakness, and mood swing. In some cases, more depression, paranoid, and hallucination could be found especially in cancer patients in whom depression co-existed.
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กรมการแพทย์ กระทรวงสาธารณสุข. รูปแบบคลินิกให้คำปรึกษาการใช้สารสกัดกัญชาทางการแพทย์. พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 1. กรุงเทพมหานคร: โรงพิมพ์องค์การสงเคราะห์ทหารผ่านศึก; 2562.
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มะเร็งวิทยาสมาคมแห่งประเทศไทย. ข้อคิดเห็นและคำแนะนำการใช้สารสกัดจากกัญชาในผู้ป่วยมะเร็ง โดยมะเร็งวิทยาสมาคมแห่งประเทศไทย. มะเร็งวิทยาสมาคมแห่งประเทศไทย. https://www.thethaicancer.com/Webpage/Treatment.html.
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