Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials .
There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids , including serious AEs .
Common AEs included dizziness , dry mouth , nausea , fatigue , somnolence , euphoria , vomiting , disorientation , drowsiness , confusion , loss of balance , and hallucination .
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity .
There was low- quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy , weight gain in HIV infection , sleep disorders , and Tourette syndrome .
Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs
IMPORTANCE Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms , but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events ( AEs ) of cannabinoids .
Antiemetics in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer: a randomized comparison of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and prochlorperazine.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) is an effective antiemetic as compared with placebos in patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer . In this study we compared THC with prochlorperazine ( compazine ) in a r and omized , double-blind , crossover trial with patients who had failed to benefit from st and ard antiemetic therapy .  Regardless of the emetic activity of the chemotherapeutic agents , there were more complete responses to THC courses ( in 36 of 79 courses ) than to prochlorperazine ( in 16 of 78 courses ) . Of 25 patients who were treated with both drugs and who expressed a preference , 20 preferred THC ( P = 0.005 ) . Among patients under 20 years of age there was a higher proportion of complete responses to THC courses ( 15 of 20 ) than among older patients ( 21 of 59 courses ; P = 0.004 ) . Increased food intake occurred more frequently with THC ( P = 0.008 ) and was associated with the presence of a " high . " Of 36 THC courses result ing in complete antiemetic responses , 32 were associated with a high . We conclude that THC is an effective antiemetic in many patients who receive chemotherapy for cancer and for whom other antiemetics are ineffective . ( N Engl J Med 302:135 - -138 , 1980 )
Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials .
There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids , including serious AEs .
Common AEs included dizziness , dry mouth , nausea , fatigue , somnolence , euphoria , vomiting , disorientation , drowsiness , confusion , loss of balance , and hallucination .
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity .
There was low- quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy , weight gain in HIV infection , sleep disorders , and Tourette syndrome .
Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs
IMPORTANCE Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms , but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events ( AEs ) of cannabinoids .