Synthetic Marijuana Dronabinol as Effective as Ondansetron for Chemo

Jim Finnel

Fallen Cannabis Warrior & Ex News Moderator
Dronabinol as effective as ondansetron in the treatment of delayed nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy

IACM via BBSNews 2007-03-18 -- In a clinical study at the Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach, USA, dronabinol was as effective as ondansetron in 61 patients chemotherapy in reducing delayed nausea and vomiting. A combination of both medications was no more effective than both of the single drugs.

Patients received dexamethasone (20 mg oral) and ondansetron (16 mg intravenous) on day 1. They also received either placebo or dronabinol (2.5 mg oral) before and after chemotherapy. On day 2, fixed doses of placebo, dronabinol (10 mg), ondansetron (16 mg), or combination therapy were administered. On days 3- 5, patients received placebo, flexible doses of dronabinol (10- 20 mg), ondansetron (8-16 mg), or dronabinol and ondansetron.

Total response to therapy was defined as nausea intensity below 5 on a visual analog scale, no vomiting or retching and no need for additional antiemetic medication. 64 patients participated and 61 were analyzed. Total response was similar with dronabinol (54 per cent), ondansetron (58 per cent), and combination therapy (47 per cent) versus placebo (20 per cent). Nausea absence was significantly greater in active treatment groups (dronabinol, 71 per cent; ondansetron, 64 per cent; combination therapy, 53 per cent) versus placebo (15 per cent). Nausea intensity and vomiting or retching were lowest in patients treated with dronabinol. All active treatments were well tolerated.

The abstract is available here.

(Source: Meiri E, Jhangiani H, Vredenburgh JJ, Barbato LM, Carter FJ, Yang HM, Baranowski V. Efficacy of dronabinol alone and in combination with ondansetron versus ondansetron alone for delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Curr Med Res Opin 2007;23(3):533-43.)

BBSNews - Synthetic Marijuana Dronabinol as Effective as Ondansetron for Chemo
 
Back
Top Bottom