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 .
Efficacy of dronabinol alone and in combination with ondansetron versus ondansetron alone for delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting*
ABSTRACT Objective : To compare the efficacy and tolerability of dronabinol , ondansetron , or the combination for delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting ( CINV ) in a 5-day , double-blind , placebo-controlled study . Research design and methods : Patients receiving moderately to highly emetogenic chemotherapy received dexamethasone ( 20 mg PO ) , ondansetron ( 16 mg IV ) and either placebo or dronabinol ( 2.5 mg ) prechemotherapy on day 1 . Patients r and omized to active treatment ( dronabinol and /or ondansetron )  also received dronabinol ( 2.5 mg ) after chemotherapy on day 1 . 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 ( 10–20 mg dronabinol , 8–16 mg ondansetron ) . Main outcome measures : Total response ( TR = nausea intensity < 5 mm on visual analog scale , no vomiting/retching , no rescue antiemetic ) , nausea ( occurrence and intensity ) and vomiting/retching episodes . Results : Sixty-four patients were r and omized ; 61 analyzed for efficacy . TR was similar with dronabinol ( 54 % ) , ondansetron ( 58 % ) , and combination therapy ( 47 % ) versus placebo ( 20 % ) . Nausea absence was significantly greater in active treatment groups ( dronabinol , 71 % ; ondansetron , 64 % ; combination therapy , 53 % ) versus placebo ( 15 % ; p < 0.05 vs. placebo for all ) . Nausea intensity and vomiting/retching were lowest in patients treated with dronabinol . Active treatments were well tolerated . The low number of patients due to slow enrollment limits the interpretation of these data . Conclusions : Dronabinol or ondansetron was similarly effective for the treatment of CINV . Combination therapy with dronabinol and ondansetron was not more effective than either agent alone . Active treatments were well tolerated
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 .