Medical cannabinoids: a pharmacology-based systematic review and meta-analysis for all relevant medical indications
- Open Access
- 01.12.2022
- Review
Abstract
Background
Results
Indication | Dronabinol | Nabilone | CBD | Nabiximols |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chronic pain | x | x | x | x |
Spasticity | x | x | x | |
Nausea/appetite | x | x | x | x |
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | x | x | ||
Chorea Huntington | x | x | x | |
Dystonia | x | x | x | |
Epilepsy | x | |||
Glaucoma | x | x | ||
Irritable bowel disease | x | |||
Multiple sclerosis | x | x | ||
Parkinson | x | x | ||
ADHD | x | |||
Anorexia nervosa | x | |||
Anxiety | x | x | x | x |
Dementia | x | x | ||
Depression | x | x | x | x |
PTSD | x | x | ||
Schizophrenia/psychosis | x | x | ||
Sleep | x | x | x | x |
Substance abuse | x | x | x | x |
Tourette | x | |||
Retention | x | x | x | x |
Adverse events | x | x | x | x |
Intervention | Indication | No. of studies | Parallel/crossover | Maximum dose | Comparator | Treatment length (weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dronabinol | Chronic pain | 16 | 9/7 | 8–129.6 mg. Most common: 2.5–15 mg (n = 11) | Placebo | Acute to 156. Most common: acute (n = 5) |
1 | 0/1 | 20 mg | Active | 8 | ||
Spasticity | 6 | 4/2 | 2.5–60 mg | Placebo | < 1 week to 144. Most common: 4 (n = 2) | |
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite | 14 | 6/8 | 5–129.6 mg. Most common: 5–20 mg (n = 12) | Placebo | Acute to 6. Most common: 1–5 days (n = 8) | |
6 | 3/3 | 5–100 mg. Most common: 5–10 (n = 3) | Active | Acute to 9.8. Most common: acute (n = 4) | ||
ALS | 1 | 0/1 | 10 mg | Placebo | 2 | |
Dystonia | 1 | 0/1 | 15 mg | Placebo | 8 | |
Glaucoma | 1 | 0/1 | 5 mg | Placebo | Acute | |
IBS | 2 | 1/1 | 2.5–10 mg | Placebo | Acute | |
MS | 3 | 3/0 | 25–8 mg | Placebo | 14 (n = 2), 156 (n = 1) | |
Anorexia Nervosa | 1 | 0/1 | 5 mg | Placebo | 4 | |
1 | 0/1 | 30 mg | Active | 2 | ||
Anxiety | 8 | 3/5 | 5–30 mg. Most common: 10 mg (n = 6) | Placebo | Acute to 7.3. Most common: acute (n = 6) | |
2 | 1/1 | 30–50 mg | Active | Acute to 6 | ||
Depression | 8 | 4/4 | 5–30 mg. Most common: 5–10 mg (n = 7) | Placebo | < 1 week to 156. Most common: less than 1 week (n = 4) | |
2 | 1/1 | 30–50 mg | Active | Acute and 6 | ||
Dementia | 3 | 1/2 | 1.5–5 mg | Placebo | 1 to 6 | |
PTSD | 1 | 1/0 | 7.5 mg | Placebo | Acute | |
Psychosis/schizophrenia | 1 | 0/1 | 2.5–5 mg | Placebo | Acute | |
Sleep | 8 | 4/4 | 2.5–129.6 mg. Most common: 10 mg (n = 3), 129.6 mg (n = 2) | Placebo | < 1 week to 14. Most common: less than 1 week to 2 (n = 5) | |
2 | 1/1 | 30 mg | Active | 2 and 6 | ||
SUDs | 4 | 1/3 | 5–40 mg | Placebo | Acute (n = 2), < 1 week and 8 | |
1 | 1/0 | 30 mg | Active | 6 | ||
Tourette | 2 | 1/1 | 5–10 mg | Placebo | Acute and 6 | |
Nabilone | Chronic pain | 9 | 6/3 | 0.25–4 mg. Most common: 2 mg (n = 5) | Placebo | 4 to 9. Most common: 4 (n = 4) |
3 | 0/3 | 0.5–2 mg | Active | 2 to 8 | ||
Spasticity | 2 | 0/2 | 1 mg | Placebo | 4 | |
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite | 6 | 3/3 | 0.5–6 mg. Most common: 0.5–2 mg (n = 4) | Placebo | Acute/ < 1 week (n = 3) to 6–8 (n = 3) | |
11 | 3/8 | 1–8 mg. Most common: 1–4 mg (n = 10) | Active | Acute to 1 | ||
Huntington | 1 | 0/1 | 1 and 2 mg | Placebo | 5 | |
Dystonia | 1 | 0/1 | 0.03 mg | Placebo | Acute | |
Parkinson | 2 | 1/1 | 0.06 and 2 mg | Placebo | Acute and 4 | |
Anxiety | 8 | 5/3 | 1–8 mg | Placebo | < 1 week to 10 | |
2 | 0/2 | 0.5 and 2 mg | Active | 6 and 8 | ||
Dementia | 1 | 0/1 | 2 mg | Placebo | 6 | |
Depression | 5 | 4/1 | 1–5 mg | Placebo | Acute to 10. Most common: 4–5 (n = 3) | |
2 | 0/2 | 0.5 and 2 mg | Active | 6 and 8 | ||
PTSD | 1 | 0/1 | 3 mg | Placebo | 7 | |
Sleep | 7 | 4/3 | 1–8 mg. Most common: 1–4 mg (n = 6) | Placebo | < 1 week to 8 | |
2 | 0/2 | 0.5, 1 and 2 mg | Active | 2 and 6 | ||
SUDs | 3 | 1/2 | 2, 6 and 8 mg | Placebo | < 1 week (n = 2) and 10 | |
Cannabidiol | Chronic pain | 1 | 1/0 | 20 mg, 30 mg | Placebo | 12 |
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite | 1 | 1/0 | 200 mg | Placebo | 13 | |
Huntington | 1 | 0/1 | 10 mg | Placebo | 6 | |
Epilepsy | 6 | 6/0 | 10–300 mg. Most common: 10–20 mg (n = 4) | Placebo | 14 (n = 4), 16 and 18 | |
Parkinson | 3 | 2/1 | 75 and 300 mg | Placebo | Acute, 6 and 12 | |
Anxiety | 11 | 9/2 | 400–800 mg. Most common: 300 mg (n = 4), 400 mg (n = 3) | Placebo | Acute to 12. Most common: acute to < 1 week (n = 5) | |
Depression | 6 | 6/0 | 75–400 mg | Placebo | 1 to 13 | |
Psychosis/schizophrenia | 4 | 3/1 | 300 mg, 600 mg (n = 2) and 1000 mg | Placebo | Acute (n = 2) and 6 (n = 2) | |
1 | 1/0 | 800 mg | Active | 4 | ||
Sleep | 9 | 9/0 | 10–1000 mg. Most common: 10–20 mg (n = 5) | Placebo | 1 to 14. Most common: 12–14 (n = 5) | |
SUDs | 7 | 6/2 | 400–800 mg. Most common doses: 800 mg (n = 5) | Placebo | Acute to 13. Most common: < 1 week (n = 4) | |
Nabiximols | Chronic pain | 20 | 16/4 | 10.8–129.6 mg THC: 10–120 mg CBD. Most common: 32.4 mg THC: 30 mg:CBD (n = 7), 129.6 mg THC: 120 mg CBD (n = 5) | Placebo | 2 to 14. Most common: 5 (n = 6), 12 (n = 4) |
Spasticity | 14 | 6/4 | 8.1–129.6 mg THC: 7.5–120 mg CBD. Most common: 32.4 mg THC: 30 mg:CBD (n = 6), 129.6 mg THC: 120 mg CBD (n = 2) | Placebo | 2 to 14. Most common: 12 (n = 3), 6 (n = 3), 4 (n = 3) | |
Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite | 8 | 6/2 | 5–129.6 mg THC: 2–120 mg CBD | Placebo | < 1 week to 12. Most common: < 1 week (n = 3) | |
ALS | 1 | 1/0 | 32.4 mg THC: 30 mg CBD | Placebo | 6 | |
Chorea Hunington | 1 | 0/1 | 32.4 mg THC: 30 mg CBD | Placebo | 12 | |
Dystonia | 1 | 0/1 | 32.4 mg THC: 30 mg CBD | Placebo | 12 | |
Glaucoma | 1 | 0/1 | CBD: THC (1:21). 20, 40 mg | Placebo | Acute | |
MS | 5 | 4/1 | 30–129.6 mg THC: 10.8–120 mg CBD | Placebo | 2 to 14. Most common: 14 (n = 2) | |
ADHD | 1 | 1/0 | 37.8 mg THC: 35 mg CBD | Placebo | 6 | |
Depression | 8 | 5/3 | 32.4–129.6 mg THC: 30–120 mg CBD. Most common: 32.4 mg THC: 30 mg:CBD (n = 2) | Placebo | < 1 week to 12. Most common: 12 (n = 3) | |
Anxiety | 6 | 3/3 | 30–129.6 mg THC: 10.8–120 mg CBD | Placebo | 3 to 12. Most common: 12 (n = 2) | |
Sleep | 22 | 18/4 | 16.2–129.6 mg THC: 15–120 mg CBD. Most common: 32.4 mg THC: 30 mg:CBD (n = 6), 129.6 mg THC: 120 mg CBD (n = 4) | Placebo | < 1 week to 14. Most common: 5 (n = 6), 12 (n = 4) | |
SUDs | 4 | 3/1 | 64.8–113.4 mg THC: 60–105 mg CBD | Placebo | < 1 week to 12. Most common: 12 (n = 2) |
Comparison | No. of participants (studies) | I2 (%) | GRADE | Relative effect (95% CI) | Anticipated absolute effects | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outcome | Risk with control | Risk difference with Cannabinoids | |||||
Chronic pain | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 1395 (15 RCTs) | 53 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE c | SMD 0.31 lower (0.46 lower to 0.15 lower) | ||
Dronabinol vs Active | 14 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.73 higher (0.1 lower to 1.56 higher) | |||||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 363 (9 RCTs) | 70 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,g | SMD 0.41 lower (0.76 lower to 0.06 lower) | |||
Nabilone vs Active | 262 (3 RCTs) | 83 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,e | SMD 0.08 lower (0.54 lower to 0.38 higher) | |||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 129 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.01 higher (0.34 lower to 0.35 higher) | |||||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 3238 (21 RCTs) | 65 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE c | SMD 0.23 lower (0.34 lower to 0.12 lower) | |||
Spasticity | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 704 (6 RCTs) | 52 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0.08 lower (0.34 lower to 0.17 higher) | ||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 44 (2 RCTs) | 68 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW a,c,g | SMD 0.7 lower (1.56 lower to 0.16 higher) | |||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 1658 (14 RCTs) | 68 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE c | SMD 0.36 lower (0.54 lower to 0.19 lower) | |||
Nausea/vomiting | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 495 (8 RCTs) | 61 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0 .21 lower (0.49 lower to 0.07 higher) | ||
Dronabinol vs Active | 308 (5 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW a,g | SMD 0.28 lower (0.47 lower to 0.1 lower) | |||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 603 (4 RCTs) | 61 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0.09 lower (0.36 lower to 0.18 higher) | |||
Nabilone vs Active | 627 (11 RCTs) | 46 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW b,c | SMD 0.44 lower (0.62 lower to 0.26 lower) | |||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 393 (6 RCTs) | 56 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW a,e | SMD 0.23 lower (0.55 lower to 0.08 higher) | |||
Appetite | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 599 (10 RCTs) | 81 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE c | SMD 0.51 lower (0.87 lower to 0.15 lower) | ||
Dronabinol vs Active | 795 (3 RCTs) | 86 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0.02 lower (0.39 lower to 0.34 higher) | |||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 187 (4 RCTs) | 74 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,e | SMD 0.44 lower (0.98 lower to 0.11 higher) | |||
Nabilone vs Active | 130 (3 RCTs) | 85 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW a,d, g | SMD 0.24 higher (0.51 lower to 0.99 higher) | |||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 27 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.1 higher (0.66 lower to 0.85 higher) | |||||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 430 (6 RCTs) | 66 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0.25 lower (0.61 lower to 0.1 higher) | |||
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 22 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.26 higher (0.17 lower to 0.68 higher) | ||||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 59 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.38 higher (0.13 lower to 0.90 higher) | |||||
Chorea Huntington | Nabilone vs Placebo | 74 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.45 lower (0.79 lower to 0.11 lower) | ||||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 30 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.18 higher (0.33 lower to 0.69 higher) | |||||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 50 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.17 higher (0.23 lower to 0.56 higher) | |||||
Dystonia | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 14 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.05 higher (0.69 lower to 0.79 higher) | ||||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 26 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.49 lower (1.07 lower to 0.08 higher) | |||||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 50 (1 RCT) | SMD 0 (0.39 lower to 0.39 higher) | |||||
Epilepsy | Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 956 (6 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁⨁⨁ HIGH | SMD 0.5 lower (0.62 lower to 0.38 lower) | ||
Glaucoma | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 12 (1 RCT) | SMD 1.28 lower (2.36 lower to 0.2 lower) | ||||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 12 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.82 higher (0.1 lower to 1.75 higher) | |||||
IBS | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 81 (2 RCTs) | 85 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,e | SMD 0 (1.09 lower to 1.09 higher) | ||
MS | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 660 (2 RCTs) | 74 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0.15 lower (0.51 lower to 0.22 higher) | ||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 863 (5 RCTs) | 65 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0.14 lower (0.38 lower to 0.11 higher) | |||
Parkinson | Nabilone vs Placebo | 51 (2 RCTs) | 46 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,e | SMD 0.38 lower (1.05 lower to 0.29 higher) | ||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 101 (3 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE g | SMD 0.41 lower (0.75 lower to 0.08 lower) | |||
ADHD | Nabiximols vs Placebo | 30 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.83 lower (1.58 lower to 0.09 lower) | ||||
Anorexia nervosa | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 48 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.47 lower (0.89 lower to 0.05 lower) | ||||
Dronabinol vs Active | 22 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.06 lower (0.65 lower to 0.53 higher) | |||||
Anxiety | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 113 (4 RCTs) | 49 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW e | SMD 0.03 lower (0.47 lower to 0.41 higher) | ||
Dronabinol vs Active | 278 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.14 higher (0.03 lower to 0.31 higher) | |||||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 147 (6 RCTs) | 84 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW a,c,e | SMD 0.59 lower (1.4 lower to 0.22 higher) | |||
Nabilone vs Active | 192 (2 RCTs) | 11 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW e | SMD 0.11 lower (0.33 lower to 0.11 higher) | |||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 481 (11 RCTs) | 78 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,e | SMD 0.34 lower (0.73 lower to 0.06 higher) | |||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 258 (6 RCTs) | 43 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW e | SMD 0.06 higher (0.23 lower to 0.34 higher) | |||
Dementia | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 115 (3 RCTs) | 3 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW e | SMD 0.27 lower (0.57 lower to 0.04 higher) | ||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 76 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.53 lower (0.87 lower to 0.19 lower) | |||||
Depression | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 700 (7 RCTs) | 83 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0.15 lower (0.49 lower to 0.19 higher) | ||
Dronabinol vs Active | 278 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.14 higher (0.03 lower to 0.31 higher) | |||||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 76 (3 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW e | SMD 0.03 lower (0.48 lower to 0.43 higher) | |||
Nabilone vs Active | 192 (2 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW e | SMD 0.03 lower (0.23 lower to 0.17 higher) | |||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 301 (6 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW e | SMD 0.12 higher (0.09 lower to 0.34 higher) | |||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 413 (7 RCTs) | 43 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE f | SMD 0.12 lower (0.36 lower to 0.13 higher) | |||
PTSD | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 46 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.63 lower (1.22 lower to 0.03 lower) | ||||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 18 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.88 lower (1.65 lower to 0.11 lower) | |||||
Schizophrenia /psychosis | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 26 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.89 higher (0.25 higher to 1.53 higher) | ||||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 152 (3 RCTs) | 70 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,f | SMD 0.24 lower (0.81 lower to 0.33 higher) | |||
Cannabidiol vs Active | 39 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.05 higher (0.58 lower to 0.68 higher) | |||||
Sleep | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 683 (7 RCTs) | 64 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | SMD 0.13 lower (0.39 lower to 0.12 higher) | ||
Dronabinol vs Active | 22 (1 RCT) | SMD 1.12 higher (0.37 higher to 1.87 higher) | |||||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 175 (6 RCTs) | 77 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,g | SMD 0.58 lower (1.14 lower to 0.01 lower) | |||
Nabilone vs Active | 200 (2 RCTs) | 91 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW d,e | SMD 0.21 lower (0.97 lower to 0.55 higher) | |||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 961 (8 RCTs) | 46 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW a,c | SMD 0.06 lower (0.23 lower to 0.11 higher) | |||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 3659 (23 RCTs) | 61 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE c | SMD 0.24 lower (0.35 lower to 0.14 lower) | |||
SUDs | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 196 (3 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW a,g | SMD 0.47 lower (0.73 lower to 0.2 lower) | ||
Dronabinol vs Active | 60 (1 RCT) | SMD 0.85 lower (1.41 lower to 0.29 lower) | |||||
Nabilone vs Placebo | 70 (3 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW a,g | SMD 0.55 lower (0.93 lower to 0.18 lower) | |||
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 353 (7 RCTs) | 81 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,e | SMD 0.2 lower (0.63 lower to 0.24 higher) | |||
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 237 (4 RCTs) | 59 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE g | SMD 0.48 lower (0.92 lower to 0.04 lower) | |||
Tourette | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 41 (2 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE g | SMD 1.01 lower (1.58 lower to 0.44 lower) | ||
Retention | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 3285 (37 RCTs) | 65 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | OR 1.11 (0.80 to 1.53) | 194 per 1.000 | 17 more per 1.000 (33 fewer to 75 more) |
Dronabinol vs Active | 1079 (8 RCTs) | 32 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW a,e | OR 1.03 (0.76 to 1.40) | 422 per 1.000 | 7 more per 1.000 (65 fewer to 83 more) | |
Nabilone vs Placebo | 1070 (16 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW a,e | OR 0.99 (0.76 to 1.29) | 143 per 1.000 | 1 fewer per 1.000 (30 fewer to 34 more) | |
Nabilone vs Active | 1004 (13 RCTs) | 0 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW a,e | OR 0.99 (0.79 to 1.25) | 205 per 1.000 | 2 fewer per 1.000 (36 fewer to 39 more) | |
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 1775 (22 RCTs) | 41 | ⨁◯◯◯ VERY LOW c,g | OR 1.38 (0.77 to 2.47) | 71 per 1.000 | 24 more per 1.000 (15 fewer to 88 more) | |
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 4643 (33 RCTs) | 44 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c,f | OR 1.17 (0.92 to 1.49) | 170 per 1.000 | 23 more per 1.000 (11 fewer to 64 more) | |
Adverse events | Dronabinol vs Placebo | 2707 (37 RCTs) | 56 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW c | OR 2.16 (1.59 to 2.94) | 320 per 1.000 | 184 more per 1.000 (108 more to 260 more) |
Dronabinol vs Active | 925 (8 RCTs) | 67 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW a,c | OR 2.75 (1.43 to 5.26) | 466 per 1.000 | 240 more per 1.000 (89 more to 355 more) | |
Nabilone vs Placebo | 996 (16 RCTs) | 76 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE c | OR 3.12 (1.52 to 6.42) | 226 per 1.000 | 251 more per 1.000 (81 more to 426 more) | |
Nabilone vs Active | 909 (13 RCTs) | 71 | ⨁⨁◯◯ LOW a,c | OR 2.47 (1.45 to 4.20) | 223 per 1.000 | 192 more per 1.000 (71 more to 324 more) | |
Cannabidiol vs Placebo | 1736 (22 RCTs) | 58 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE c | OR 1.82 (1.08 to 3.07) | 482 per 1.000 | 147 more per 1.000 (19 more to 259 more) | |
Nabiximols vs Placebo | 4404 (33 RCTs) | 74 | ⨁⨁⨁◯ MODERATE c | OR 1.97 (1.48 to 2.64) | 536 per 1.000 | 159 more per 1.000 (95 more to 217 more) | |
Primary outcomes
Chronic pain
Spasticity with MS and paraplegia
Nausea and vomiting
Appetite
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Chorea Huntington
Dystonia
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
Irritable bowel syndrome
Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
ADHD
Anxiety
Dementia
Depression
PTSD
Schizophrenia and psychosis
Sleep
Substance abuse
Tourette
Secondary outcomes
Retention
Adverse events
Discussion
Conclusions
Methods
Study design
Search strategy and selection criteria
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Type of studies: randomized controlled parallel and cross-over trials (RCTs) with allocation concealment that was blinded (single or double blinded) which examined the study objective. We excluded all other study designs, including cohort studies, case control studies, outcome research, case studies, case series, expert opinion and conference abstracts.
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Type of participants: humans of any age or sex, with a medical condition or health problem of any type.
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Types of interventions: four medical cannabinoids: dronabinol, nabilone, cannabidiol and nabiximols for the treatment of any medical condition. We excluded natural cannabis-based formulations (i.e. smoked marijuana). If a study compared one type of cannabinoid to another or one type of cannabinoid with another active drug, we included both arms. The following indications were included: chronic pain; spasticity with multiple sclerosis and paraplegia; nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite; gastroenterological, neurodegenerative and other neurological diseases including: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis (tremor and bladder dysfunction), Chorea Huntington, epilepsy, dystonia, Parkinson and glaucoma, and psychiatric disorders including ADHD, anorexia nervosa, anxiety disorders, dementia, depression, psychotic disorders and schizophrenia, PTSD, sleeping disorders, substance abuse disorders and Tourette.
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Types of outcomes measures: Eligible outcomes were patient-important and disease-specific outcomes (primary outcomes), retention and adverse events (secondary outcomes).