Synthetic marijuana drug coming to chemo patients

cnn ^ | 5/17/06

[LouAvul]

Seventeen years after it was withdrawn from U.S. markets, a synthetic version of the active ingredient in marijuana is going back on sale as a prescription treatment for the vomiting and nausea that often accompany chemotherapy, the drug's manufacturer said Tuesday.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International hopes to begin selling Cesamet in the next two to three weeks, company president Wes Wheeler said.

The Costa Mesa, California, company received Food and Drug Administration approval Monday to resume sales of the drug, which it bought from Eli Lilly and Co. in 2004. Valeant currently sells the drug, also called nabilone, in Canada.

Lilly originally received FDA approval for nabilone in 1985 but withdrew it from the market in 1989 for commercial reasons, Wheeler said. Valeant, since purchasing the drug, has revised its label and updated its manufacturing process, he added.

The drug will compete with Marinol, made by Belgium-based Solvay SA. Marinol, another synthetic version of tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana that's more commonly known as THC. It also received FDA approval in 1985.

Synthetic THC acts on the brain like the THC in smoked marijuana but eliminates having to inhale the otherwise harmful smoke contained in the illegal drug, Valeant said.

Cesamet is a Schedule II drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse. The 1-milligram tablets are meant to be taken twice daily before cancer patients undergo chemotherapy and up to 48 hours following treatment. Side effects include euphoria, drowsiness, vertigo and dry mouth.

[LouAvul]

I'm not in favor of recreational pot, but, goodness, cancer? They should give them whatever drug the patient desires.

[Responsibility2nd]

Does taking synthetic pot give one the synthetic munchies?

[DonaldC]

I wonder how much more expensive it is compared to the real thing?

[Supernatural]

But the FDA just said marijuana has no medicinal value.

But synthetic marijuana does?

Pretzel logic.

[antiRepublicrat]

They should give them whatever drug the patient desires.

Smoking pot to relieve your symptoms doesn't put money in the pockets of the pharma companies, so it will remain illegal.

[Responsibility2nd]

Grandma always said the old herbal remedies were the best.

[Centurion2000]

But the FDA just said marijuana has no medicinal value.

That's because the pharm companies can't make a killing in profit off it.

[Lexington Green]

Pot has no medicinal value, unless the pharmaceutical companies are the ones who profit by it.

[microgood]

The problem with this is that many patients cannot ingest anything after chemotherapy and that is why the smoke it, so they can then overcome the nauseau and eat. Until they make an inhaler or something, they have not resolved the issue.

[Mr. Lucky]

Yes, but only for Styrofoam peanuts.

[HangnJudge]

Have been prescribing Marinol for some time

Usually for wasting syndromes, CTX nausea, other causes of anorexia

I've seen no unusual complications of this agent, properly used
It is a Schedule III

Cesamet is a Schedule II drug, I don't know why it is more heavily regulated
Than Marinol, which should be functionally identical...

Cesamet Mongraph

[taxcontrol]

No but your cravings for junk food are worse.

[ncountylee]

When I was going through chemo about half of my patient support group were using pot with the MDs' knowledge.

[Supernatural]

Ping!

[Know your rights]

When I was going through chemo about half of my patient support group were using pot with the MDs' knowledge.

Execution is too good for such druggie scum. </sarcasm>

[winston2]

But the FDA just said marijuana has no medicinal value.

But synthetic marijuana does?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah - what he said!

It always makes me feel better to just smell some stavia. Do the pills have more of a stavia smell or Indica? /pun

[MD_Willington_1976]

"Side effects include euphoria, drowsiness, vertigo and dry mouth."

Feeling stupid-happy instead of feeling like shooting oneself or curling up & dieing is a side affect... okay whatever...

Kudos to those who can seperate the "wheat from the chaff"

If it doesn't put a $ in a pocket in that fancy house in DC, it must be evil... yep darn right.. evil stuff...

[spectre]

My dear cousin is currently on Avastin and he is wasting away, no appetite. I fear he is going to die because he doesn't eat.

If smoking a joint gave him the munchies, it would be a god send..

sw

[halfright]

Yeah but they have no qualms about prescribing me 270 percocets for a 3 months mail order analgesic supply....

[HangnJudge]

Avastin, an anti-angiogenesis agent...

Avastin

Sure can beat up on someones appetite
a Cannabinoid may well help him with this complication