Pacientes que usan Cannabis sativa sp. con fines medicinales en Cuidados Paliativos, Hospital Gustavo Fricke: Resultados de una encuesta local

Cannabis sativa sp. is frequently used in patients with cancer as a therapeutic strategy for multimodal symptomatic relief and to improve quality of life. Previous reports describe its analgesic, antiemetic, orexigenic, and anxiolytic effects. These effects are attributable to the exogenous manipulation of the endocannabinoid system with biologically active components present in the cannabis plant. We conducted a local descriptive study, in which patients from the Palliative Care Program from Gustavo Fricke Hospital were surveyed to document the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes in oncological patients. From a total of 22 patients surveyed, 17 used it for pain relief and 11 reported that relief it provided was “a lot”. Patients also referred using it to manage anxiety, sleep, and appetite. The most frequent form of administration was via oral (n = 18). Seven patients reported adverse effects, with inhalation being the administration route with most adverse events (4/7). The most frequent side effect was psychoactivity (n = 2). Of the patients surveyed, none of them used cannabis under medical prescription, and none knew the components present in the preparation. The lack of medical prescription and assessment in regards to cannabis use and the employment of non-standardized preparations, for which efficacy and safety has yet not been demonstrated, is alarming.