How Medical Cannabis can HELP NAUSEA

Not too many patients that I have treated in the past 14 years have never experienced nausea.   Nausea can arise from migraines, from indigestion, medication side effects, viruses, gastrointestinal disorders and chemotherapy.

Many have heard of a prescription medication, Dronabinol.   It is a synthetic form of THC.  A study was conducted in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and assessing their nausea.   The study compared patients receiving Zofran + steroids versus Dronabinol + steroids.   They did discover that both regimens seems to control nausea.  (see article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165951/)

So how does this work:

THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis/marijuana, works on the brain and body.   CB1 (cannabis or cannabinoid type 1 ) receptor is where THC binds.   Here when THC binds to CB1 receptors it can stop vomiting and decreasing intestinal motility. 

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165951/#b142).   

In individuals undergoing chemotherapy, for example, a combination of THC and CBD has also shown to be effective.  

This may be helpful for not just patients on chemo, but for those with other causes of nausea.

Hope this little explanation helps!

- Dr Sam Urick