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| Synthetic Marijuana Helps Cancer Patients: Study |
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Posted by CN Staff on December 15, 2006 at 21:31:37 PT By Deena Beasley Source: Reuters 
Toronto -- A synthetic version of the active ingredient in marijuana, a legal treatment for nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, also helps symptoms like pain, anxiety and depression, according to research presented on Friday."The findings show how great the potential is to improve the quality of life for cancer patients," said lead investigator Dr. Vincent Maida of the University of Toronto. The 139-patient study involved a drug called nabilone, sold under the brand name Cesamet by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International. It has been available in Canada for years, and was approved in May by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional anti-nausea treatments. The drug is part of a class known as cannabinoids that are similar to the active ingredient found in naturally occurring cannabis, or marijuana. But Cesamet, as with similar drugs such as Solvay SA's Marinol, is designed to target specific cannabinoid receptors and does not carry the toxic effects associated with smoking marijuana, Maida said. "This is not the pot pill," he said. "It has absolutely no street value." That contrasts with morphine-based pain drugs, such as OxyContin, that are associated with addiction and abuse, the investigator said. The study, based on questionnaires filled out by cancer patients, found that those treated with the drug experienced significantly more pain reduction than patients treated with standard therapy. Scores for drowsiness, tiredness, appetite and well-being were stable in the Cesamet group, but deteriorated in the non-Cesamet group. Depression and anxiety were also reduced significantly in the nabilone group, but increased in the non-cannabinoid group, according to the study, which was presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. "There are no other drugs that are as broad-spectrum as cannabinoids. By using them, we can reduce the use of other drugs which are riskier, burdensome and expensive," Maida said. Side effects of Cesamet include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth and euphoria. But Valeant's sales of the drug, which was launched in the United States in August, totaled just $7.3 million in the first half of this year. "The issue is the stigma," Maida said. "There is some timidity on the part of practitioners to prescribe these drugs." Source: Reuters (Wire) Related Articles: The FDA's Marijuana Problem Synthetic Marijuana Returning to Market Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #11 posted by BGreen on December 16, 2006 at 23:07:58 PT |
| Side effects of Cesamet include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth and euphoria.Side effects of Cannabis include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, euphoria ... and PRISON! Yes, prison IS a "toxic" effect, but it's also the easiest side effect to eliminate. How dare they disparage cannabis just to sell over-priced synthetic pills? The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #10 posted by FoM on December 16, 2006 at 09:56:32 PT |
| Thank you. I didn't know that. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by John Markes on December 16, 2006 at 09:35:57 PT |
| Nabilone was previously rejected because in studies on dogs, many of the dogs got sick and/or died. Now they skip the animal testing and go straight to human testing, without resolving the dead-dog problem... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #8 posted by John Tyler on December 16, 2006 at 07:26:11 PT |
| "Side effects of Cesamet include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth and euphoria." Why is euphoria in the same sentence with the presumably negative side effects? My dictionary (Webster's New World Dictionary 1990) says that euphoria is a feeling of well-being. There was no mention of being "high" or anything like that. You just feel good. What is wrong with that? Given a choice of feeling bad or feeling good, wouldn’t most people choose to feel good? It annoys me that some writers, speakers etc. try to make euphoria sound pejorative. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by FoM on December 16, 2006 at 07:22:34 PT |
| We know that Cannabis is good medicine. Everyday I take Saint John's Wort (anti-depression herb) and American Ginseng (energy and vitality ) and Gotu Kola (energy without caffeine) SJW costs $10.99 for 100 capsules. GK costs $6.99 for 100 capsules and AG costs $13.99 for 100 capsules. Many people in America don't have health insurance including me. I couldn't afford to take a pill when an herb will do the same thing and probably better. Making a drug out of cannabis is fine with me as long as the natural plant is allowed for people who don't take pharmaceuticals for whatever reason. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #6 posted by mayan on December 16, 2006 at 06:34:07 PT |
| Bongs set for national ban:
http://www.news.com.au/sundayheraldsun/story/0,21985,20939487-662,00.html That will teach them darned potheads! Right. This is grande... 9-11 Investigation: Key 9-11 Facts And Assumptions Challenged By Prof. David Ray Griffin Video - 9-11: Myth Or Reality? http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2006/12/16/911_investigation_key_911_facts.htm And don't forget to have your own little tea parties if you can't make the big ones... Boston Tea Party for 9/11 Truth - Today (Sat.)!!! http://www.boston911truth.org/teaparty/index.html [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #5 posted by Marc Paquette on December 16, 2006 at 06:30:42 PT:
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| Dear Friends; What are the toxic effects associated with smoking marijuana? Studies in the last years proved that marijuana doesn't have toxic effects - not even cancer! Again, you will find all this information if you check some of the following topics at: Medical Marijuana Benefits And Information (Updated Oct 27th, 2006) http://medpot.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=23121 It looks like Dr. Vincent Maida is not informed about these studies - if he is, then he's lying to everyone! Marijuana has NO recorded deaths in over 5,000 years of recorded medicinal history! Dr. Vincent Maida's job must pay ALOT for him to say all these lies about marijuana! Marc [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by mayan on December 16, 2006 at 05:45:23 PT |
| Japan retreats from long-held pacifism:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20061216-120011-1608r.htm Our earth is changing before our eyes... Global Disaster Watch: http://home.att.net/~thehessians/disasterwatch.html [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by mayan on December 16, 2006 at 04:54:07 PT |
| But Cesamet, as with similar drugs such as Solvay SA's Marinol, is designed to target specific cannabinoid receptors and does not carry the toxic effects associated with smoking marijuana, Maida said. Toxic effects? I would bet my bottom dollar that Cesamet is more dangerous than cannabis! It is truly sickening when pharmaceuticals are touted as being safer than the healing herb. Those who spout such lies seem to always have a motive ($). On an unrelated note, it looks like the fascist neo-cons may be setting the stage for another false flag attack. What if there is an attack now while Senator Johnson is incapacitated? If congress is called into an emergency session would South Dakota's republican governor be forced to immediately appoint the republican replacement? Now would be an opportune time for the neo-cons to strike again as they can also kill any possible future democrat investigations into their dirty deeds if they can take back the senate. I hope I'm way off on this! 'Blind Sheikh' Near Death; FBI Issues Terror Warning - The Significance of Federal Prisoner Number 34892-054: http://www.canadafreepress.com/2006/cover121506a.htm Also, war-monger John McCain is possibly setting up a means to stifle dissent on the internet. The neo-cons have put all of their eggs in the PNAC basket but the bottom is starting to fall out. They must hit Iran quick or they risk losing all power. That is not an option for them. McCain Bill Is Lethal Injection For Internet Freedom: http://infowars.com/articles/ps/internet_mccain_bill_lethal_injection_for_net_freedom.htm How convenient... North American Union leader says merger just crisis away: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53378 [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by whig on December 16, 2006 at 00:28:04 PT |
| Doctors in America are under the threat of prosecution themselves, every time they write a prescription authorizing a patient to take a pain drug. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by OverwhelmSam on December 15, 2006 at 23:57:07 PT |
| Seems that wider use of this drug would negate urinalysis. Notice the "toxic effects" statement. Why didn't they elaborate on the toxic effects of smoking marijuana. With 7.3 million dollars in sales in the first half year, seems that cancer patients should just grow their own and eliminate the middle man. [ Post Comment ] |
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