Guest guest Posted February 6, 2007 Report Share Posted February 6, 2007 If it is effective for people with RA and other rheumatic diseases, then I hope so, Faith. What troubles me is the last paragraph: " The issue is the stigma, " Maida said. " There is some timidity on the part of practitioners to prescribe these drugs. " I hope that someday the stigma is associated with allowing patients to suffer rather than with drugs that can safely and effectively alleviate pain. Not an MD [ ] Nabilone >I am curious if this drug will ever have a place in treating > symptoms of RA and like diseases. This kind of fits into the > Marijuana discussion. > > LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - 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. 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 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 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. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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