Review examines cannabinoids for chemo-induced nausea with a focus on CBD's non-psychoactive antiemetic potential
Both THC and CBD reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting by inhibiting serotonin release from intestinal cells, with CBD offering the advantage of no psychoactive effects.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Cannabinoids reduce CINV primarily by inhibiting serotonin release from enterochromaffin cells in the small intestine, disrupting the vomiting reflex. While THC is well-studied for this indication, CBD may offer comparable antiemetic effects without psychoactive properties, plus additional benefits for pain and appetite.
Key Numbers
The review covers multiple mechanisms of action including serotonin inhibition, along with secondary benefits for organ toxicity, pain, and appetite loss during chemotherapy.
How They Did This
Narrative review of preclinical and clinical studies on cannabinoid use for CINV, with emphasis on CBD's mechanisms and its potential advantages over THC-based preparations.
Why This Research Matters
CINV remains one of the most debilitating chemotherapy side effects. CBD's potential as a non-psychoactive antiemetic could expand cannabinoid medicine to patients who cannot tolerate THC's cognitive effects.
The Bigger Picture
Current FDA-approved cannabinoid antiemetics (dronabinol, nabilone) are THC-based and carry psychoactive effects. A CBD-based alternative could be more widely acceptable to both patients and oncologists.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Much of the CBD-specific evidence for CINV is preclinical. Clinical trial data on CBD alone for nausea is limited. Optimal dosing and formulation for antiemetic CBD use have not been established.
Questions This Raises
- ?At what dose does CBD become an effective antiemetic?
- ?Would CBD be more effective combined with low-dose THC for CINV?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CBD: antiemetic without the high
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: comprehensive review of mechanisms and evidence, but limited clinical data specific to CBD for CINV.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019.
- Original Title:
- Cannabinoids: the lows and the highs of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
- Published In:
- Future oncology (London, England), 15(9), 1035-1049 (2019)
- Authors:
- Mortimer, Toni Leigh, Mabin, Tom, Engelbrecht, Anna-Mart
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02196
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
How do cannabinoids prevent chemo nausea?
They primarily work by reducing serotonin release from cells in the small intestine, which normally triggers the vomiting reflex during chemotherapy.
Can CBD prevent nausea without making you high?
Preclinical evidence suggests CBD has antiemetic properties through the same serotonin pathway as THC but without psychoactive effects, though clinical trials specific to CBD for nausea are still limited.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02196APA
Mortimer, Toni Leigh; Mabin, Tom; Engelbrecht, Anna-Mart. (2019). Cannabinoids: the lows and the highs of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.. Future oncology (London, England), 15(9), 1035-1049. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2018-0530
MLA
Mortimer, Toni Leigh, et al. "Cannabinoids: the lows and the highs of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.." Future oncology (London, 2019. https://doi.org/10.2217/fon-2018-0530
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabinoids: the lows and the highs of chemotherapy-induced..." RTHC-02196. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/mortimer-2019-cannabinoids-the-lows-and
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.