delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol for refractory vomiting induced by cancer chemotherapy

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Abstract
Patients (53) receiving antineoplastic chemotherapy who had experienced severe nausea and vomiting refractory to standard antiemetic agents were treated with .DELTA.9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These patients were given THC 8-12 h before, during and for 24 h after chemotherapy. Ten patients (19%) had no further nausea and vomiting; 28 (53%) had at least a 50% reduction of nausea and vomiting compared to previous courses with the same agents. No appreciable reduction of nausea and vomiting was seen in 15 patients (28%). Toxic reactions were generally mild, with only 4 patients experiencing reactions that necessitated stopping THC therapy. Since THC is a useful antiemetic agent in patients having refractory chemotherapy-induced vomiting, it is suggested that existing restrictions prohibiting its therapeutic use should promptly be eased.

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