New study shows promising results for reducing chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting

A new study recently published in the Annals of Oncology shows the promise for medicinal cannabis to reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

The new study is significant in that it is a phase II randomised controlled trial adhering to modern research standards and using pharmaceutical grade medical cannabis. 81 patients who experienced nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy despite taking medication to try and prevent it were included in the study. They were mostly women with a median age of 55.

Patients received a CBD and THC combination product and took 1-4 capsules of oral THC 2.5mg / CBD 2.5mg three times a day. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with complete response from 0 to 120 hours after chemotherapy. This increased from 14% on placebo to 25% on the medicinal cannabis. The result was statistically significant.

“Nausea and vomiting are among the most distressing and feared consequences of chemotherapy,” chief investigator Peter Grimison, a medical oncologist at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse cancer treatment centre and University of Sydney associate professor, said in the press release. “These encouraging results indicate medicinal cannabis can help improve quality of life for chemotherapy patients.”

Almost one third (31%) of patients experienced cannabinoid related side effects such as sedation, dizziness or disorientation but 81% of patients preferred the medicine over the placebo. Based on these results a larger study is planned.