Cachexia – Cannabis Research

Cachexia Research Dashboard

15

Primary Studies

41

Related Studies

56

Total Studies

Clinical Studies

2

Clinical Meta-analyses

1

Double-blind Clinical Trials

3

Clinical Trials

Pre-Clinical Studies

7

Meta-analyses/Reviews

2

Animal Studies

0

Laboratory Studies

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CannaKeys has 56 studies associated with Cachexia.

Here is a small sampling of Cachexia studies by title:


Components of the Cachexia Research Dashboard

  • Dosing information available for Cachexia
  • Chemotype guidance for treating Cachexia with cannabis
  • Synopsis of cannabis research for Cachexia
  • Individual study details for Cachexia

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Overview - Cachexia

Description of Cachexia

Cachexia, also called wasting syndrome, refers to a loss of body mass (>10% of baseline body weight) that cannot be replaced through nutrition due to an underlying, chronic disease state that is pro-inflammatory and alters metabolism. The key differentiation between cachexia and starvation is the presence of inflammation stemming from the disease process.


Cachexia is a secondary condition in chronic destructive diseases such as end-stage cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, terminal tuberculosis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases such as emphysema.


Cachexia-associated cancer (CAC) often co-occurs with advanced cancer and is considered a separate diagnosis. It can be rated using a cachexia staging score (CSS) and is a poor prognostic indicator.


Although it occurs secondary to these examples, cachexia significantly increases morbidity and mortality. In such conditions, low appetite and anorexia are also worsened by symptomatic factors such as pain, fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, depression, and delirium.

Disease Classification

Condition: Cachexia
Disease Family: Cancer, Infectious Diseases
Organ System: Digestive System
ICD-10 Chapter: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
ICD-10 Code: R64

Cachexia Symptoms:

Weight loss, generalized weakness, shortness of breath, chronic fatigue, emaciation, no interest in food, atrophy of muscle mass, decreased strength, malnutrition, malabsorption, diarrhea, depression, anxiety, delirium, electrolyte imbalance, metabolic alterations, organ damage, altered mental status, inadequate caloric intake. Inflammation, insulin resistance and increased muscle protein breakdown are frequently found in patients diagnosed with cachexia. Cachexia is distinct from starvation, anorexia, anorexia nervosa and sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass).

Also known as:

Wasting Syndrome, AIDS wasting disease, AIDS-related wasting disease, Cachexia associated with AIDS, abnormal weight loss, pituitary cachexia, cachexia associated with an underlying illness

Drug Interactions

THC Interaction with Pharmaceutical Drugs

  • Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can enhance the effects of drugs that cause sedation and depress the central nervous system, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and alcohol. 
  • THC is metabolized by an inhibitor of several enzymatic liver pathways referred to as cytochrome P450 (aka CYP450). There are more than 50 enzymes belonging to this enzyme family, several of which are responsible for the breakdown of common drugs such as antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, doxepin, fluvoxamine), antipsychotics (haloperidol, clozapine, Stelazine), beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol), bronchodilators (e.g., theophylline), or blood thinners (e.g., warfarin). Thus, patients taking these medication classes may find that THC increases the concentration and effects of these drugs and the impact duration.
  • Clinical observation (not yet confirmed by clinical trials) suggests no likely interactions with other pharmaceuticals at a total daily dose of up to 20mg THC.

If you are interested in the interaction potential of specific pharmaceuticals with THC, consider visiting these free drug interaction checkers: Drugs.com or DrugBank Online.

CBD Interaction with Pharmaceutical Drugs

  • Cannabidiol (CBD) may alter the action of metabolic enzymes (specific drug-transport mechanisms) and alter interactions with other drugs, some of which may produce therapeutic or adverse effects. For instance, CBD interacts with the enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 and cytochrome P450 2C19, increasing the bioavailability of anti-epileptic drugs such as clobazam (a benzodiazepine). This makes it possible to achieve the same results at significantly lower dosages, reducing treatment costs and risks of adverse effects. 
  • Groups of drugs affected include anti-epileptics, psychiatric drugs, and drugs affecting metabolic enzymes.
  • Clinical observations (not yet confirmed by clinical trials) suggest no likely interactions with other pharmaceuticals at a total daily dose of up to 100mg CBD.

If you are interested in the interaction potential of specific pharmaceuticals with CBD, consider visiting these free drug interaction checkers: Drugs.com or DrugBank Online.

THC/CBD Interaction with Pharmaceutical Drugs

In general, when using cannabinoid-based therapeutics that contain both THC and CBD consider the ratio between them and weigh the relevant information displayed in the individual THC and CBD Drug Interaction windows accordingly.

If you are interested in the interaction potential of specific pharmaceuticals with both primary cannabinoids and THC/CBD, consider visiting these free drug interaction checkers: Drugs.com or DrugBank Online.

Concerns about Cannabis and Cancer-related Immunotherapies:
Some recent clinical observational studies have suggested that the co-administration of cannabinoid-based therapeutics and immunotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of certain types of cancer has been associated with worse overall survival rates (T. Taha et al., 2019; A. Biedny et al., 2020; G. Bar-Sela et al., 2020).

However, other studies have suggested that the co-commitment use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and cannabis-induced no such deleterious effects. More specifically, one trial was conducted on animals resulting in data suggesting that cannabis did not negatively affect the properties of immune checkpoint inhibitors (B. Waissengrin et al., 2023). The same authors compared the previous study results with findings from a cohort of 201 patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who received treatment with monotherapy pembrolizumab as a first-line treatment and adjunct cannabis to treat mainly pain and loss of appetite. Their time to tumor progression was 6.1 versus 5.6 months, and overall survival differed between 54.9 versus 23.6 months in cannabis-naïve patients and cannabis-using patients, respectively. However, while numerically different, the authors write that these differences were not statistically significant, leading them to suggest that “These data provide reassurance regarding the absence of a deleterious effect of cannabis in this clinical setting.”

Dosing Considerations

THC Dosage Considerations

  • THC micro dose:  0.1 mg to 0.4 mg
  • THC low dose:  0.5 mg to 5 mg
  • THC medium dose:  6 mg to 20 mg
  • THC high dose:  21 mg to 50+ mg

CBD Dosage Considerations

  • CBD low dose:  0.4 mg to 19 mg
  • CBD medium dose: 20 mg to 99 mg
  • CBD high dose:  100 mg to 800+ mg (upper limits tested ~1,500mg)
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Disclaimer
Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own licensed physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If using a product, you should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.

Information on this site is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over-the-counter medication is also available. Consult your physician, nutritionally oriented health care practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications.