From the Guidelines
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been shown to offer several potential health benefits, including pain relief, improved appetite, and reduced nausea and vomiting, particularly in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, as supported by recent studies 1, 2.
Health Benefits of THC
The health benefits of THC are varied and include:
- Pain relief: THC can effectively reduce chronic pain by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system, which helps modulate pain perception 2.
- Nausea and vomiting management: THC is valuable for managing nausea and vomiting, particularly in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, often prescribed as dronabinol (Marinol) at doses of 2.5-10mg every 3-6 hours as needed 1.
- Appetite stimulation: THC can stimulate appetite in patients with conditions causing weight loss, such as HIV/AIDS or cancer 1.
- Muscle spasticity management: THC-containing medications like nabiximols (Sativex) may be prescribed as an oral spray to manage muscle spasticity in multiple sclerosis 2.
- Sleep disorder management: THC may also help with certain sleep disorders 2.
- Glaucoma management: THC may help reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients 2.
- PTSD symptom management: THC may potentially help with PTSD symptoms 2.
Risks and Considerations
However, THC use carries risks including psychoactive effects, potential dependence, and cognitive impairment, so medical supervision is essential, and it remains illegal in many jurisdictions despite its therapeutic potential 1, 2.
Medical Supervision and Regulation
It is crucial to use THC under medical supervision, and patients should be aware of the regulatory framework surrounding cannabis and cannabinoids, including the FDA-approved medications such as dronabinol and nabilone 2.
From the Research
Health Benefits of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
- THC has been found to produce beneficial effects in chronic pain, anxiety, sleep, and inflammation in pre-clinical studies 3
- Pharmaceutical-grade prescribed THC has proven clinical benefits in multiple sclerosis, chronic neuropathic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, resistant pediatric epilepsy, anxiety, and insomnia 3
- THC is probably effective at reducing patient-reported symptoms of spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) 4
- THC is probably effective at reducing MS-related pain 4
- Vaporized THC has been shown to improve muscle spasticity, urine bladder dysfunction, and disability progression rate in MS patients 5
- Nabiximols, an oromucosal spray with a plant-derived equal combination of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), probably increases the number of people who report an important reduction of perceived severity of spasticity compared with placebo 6
Specific Health Benefits
- Chronic pain: THC has been found to produce beneficial effects in chronic pain in pre-clinical studies 3
- Anxiety: THC has been found to produce beneficial effects in anxiety in pre-clinical studies 3
- Sleep: THC has been found to produce beneficial effects in sleep in pre-clinical studies 3
- Inflammation: THC has been found to produce beneficial effects in inflammation in pre-clinical studies 3
- Multiple sclerosis: THC has been shown to improve muscle spasticity, urine bladder dysfunction, and disability progression rate in MS patients 5
- Nausea and vomiting: THC has been found to be effective in reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting 3
Safety and Tolerability
- THC is generally well-tolerated, with few serious adverse events 3, 4
- THC may increase the risk of psychosis and schizophrenia in at-risk individuals 4
- THC may increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, hypertension, heart failure, and stroke 4
- THC may cause mild to moderate adverse effects, including nervous system disorders and psychiatric disorders 6