With cannabis, there is a risk of drug interactions with certain chemotherapy regimens

Cannabis use may impact the effectiveness or side effect profile of patients undergoing active cancer treatment, according to a study presented at the Society for Integrative Oncology 2024 conference.

“The use of medical cannabis is becoming increasingly common and there is a risk of possible drug interactions, including with medical cannabis. “So we want to make sure that these patients, as well as healthcare providers, are aware of these potential drug interaction risks,” Richard Lee, MD, chair of the Cherng Family Director, Center for Integrative Oncology, at City of Hope, said in an interview with Oncology Care News.

Lee and colleagues surveyed 313 patients undergoing cancer treatment at a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center. Of them, 61 (19.5%) reported being active cannabis users. The researchers then used Lexicomp and Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database to identify possible drug interactions (PMIs). Results showed that the most common cannabis-related PMIs were acetaminophen (9.5%, moderate severity), dexamethasone (8%, moderate severity), and ondansetron (6.3%, moderate severity). The most common chemotherapy-related PMIs occurred with paclitaxel (4%, major grade) and doxorubicin (2%, major grade).

Transcript

To truly assess and identify these risks, doctors must first ask patients what they use, including over-the-counter medications [drugs]including cannabis, there are now many different forms available over the counter and various states also allow the use of medical cannabis. So I think the first step is actually to understand everything that a patient is taking, not just prescription but also non-prescription and over-the-counter medications, including those that can be inhaled or ingested, even in the form of liquids, gummies and other forms.

Then it is important to think about using this drug interaction software. So you might want to use Lexicomp, or in this case we also use one that’s very specific to herbs and supplements called Natural Medicines interaction software, and this has helped us understand a lot of the potential drug interactions with other medications that are currently in use to identify as part of your treatment plan.

reference

Kim E, Cullen J, Mendiratta P, et al. Prevalence of cannabis-related potential drug interactions (PMI) in cancer patients during treatment. Presented at the Society for Integrative Oncology Conference 2024. 25-27. October 2024. Costa Mesa, California.