Medical cannabis in simptomatic therapy of cancer patients

Kanabinoidi kao aktivni sastojci biljke Cannabis sativa L. i njihovi derivati su u zadnjih nekoliko godina privukli mnogo pažnje zbog svojih farmakoloških učinaka. Glavne bioaktivne sastavnice kanabisa su delta-9-tetrahidrokanabinol (THC) s psihoaktivnim svojstvima te kanabidiol (CBD) bez psihoaktivnog djelovanja. Kanabinoidi imaju širok spektar terapijskih učinaka kao što su stimulacija apetita, ublažavanje mučnine i povraćanja te smanjenje boli, pa pokazuju veliki potencijal u simptomatskoj terapiji onkoloških bolesnika kada primjena konvencionalnih lijekova ne daje očekivane rezultate. Dronabinol i nabilon su indicirani u terapiju mučnine i povraćanja uzrokovanih kemoterapijom. THC može ublažiti anoreksiju i gubitak težine u onkoloških bolesnika. Psihoaktivni učinci kanabisa uključuju anksioznost, disforiju, euforiju, halucinacije, paranoju, akutno oštećenje pamćenja i smanjene kongnitivne sposobnosti.Cannabinoids as active ingredients of the plant Cannabis sativa L. and their derivatives attracted a lot of attention in recent years because of its pharmacological effects. The main bioactive constituent of cannabis are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), with the psychoactive properties and cannabidiol (CBD) without the psychoactive effects. Cannabinoids have a wide range of therapeutic effects such as stimulation of appetite, alleviating nausea and vomiting, and pain relief, so they show great potential in the symptomatic treatment of cancer patients when administration of conventional drugs do not produce the expected results. Dronabinol and nabilone are indicated in the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. THC can alleviate anorexia and weight loss in cancer patients. The psychoactive effects of cannabis use include anxiety, dysphoria, euphoria, hallucinations, paranoia, acute memory impairment and reduced congenitive capabilities