In a study with 81 patients, who experienced nausea and vomiting during cancer chemotherapy despite standard medication, a cannabis extract improved the symptoms. The study was conducted at several sites in Australia. Study treatment consisted of one cycle of 1-4 self-titrated capsules of oral THC 2.5 mg/CBD 2.5 mg three times daily, from days -1 to 5, and 1 cycle of matching placebo in a crossover design.
A total of 81 participants were randomised and 72 completing two cycles were included in the efficacy analyses. Complete response was improved with cannabis from 14% to 25% with similar effects on absence of emesis, use of rescue medications, absence of significant nausea, and summary scores for the Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE). Thirty-one percent experienced moderate or severe cannabinoid-related adverse events such as sedation, dizziness, or disorientation, but 83% of participants preferred cannabis to placebo. Authors concluded that the “addition of oral THC:CBD to standard antiemetics was associated with less nausea and vomiting but additional side-effects.”
