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. 2018 Sep-Oct;136(5):472-478.
doi: 10.1590/1516-3180.2018.0313210818. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

What do Cochrane systematic reviews say about the use of cannabinoids in clinical practice?

Carolina de Oliveira Cruz Latorraca  1 , Rafael Leite Pacheco  2 , Ana Luiza Cabrera Martimbianco  3 , Daniela Vianna Pachito  4 , Rachel Riera  5
Affiliations

What do Cochrane systematic reviews say about the use of cannabinoids in clinical practice?

Carolina de Oliveira Cruz Latorraca et al. Sao Paulo Med J. 2018 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Background: The therapeutic effects of cannabinoid compounds have been the center of many investigations. This study provides a synthesis on all Cochrane systematic reviews (SRs) that assessed the use of cannabinoids as a therapeutic approach.

Design and setting: Review of SRs, conducted in the Discipline of Evidence-Based Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP).

Methods: A broad search was conducted in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to retrieve any Cochrane SRs that assessed the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids as a therapeutic approach. The results and key characteristics of all reviews included were summarized and discussed.

Results: Eight SRs were included. They assessed the use of cannabinoids for the following types of conditions: neurological (two SRs), psychiatric (two SRs), rheumatological (one SR), infectious (one SR) and oncological (two SRs). There was moderate-quality evidence showing that the use of cannabinoids reduced nausea and vomiting among adults, compared with placebo. Additionally, there was moderate-quality evidence showing that there was no difference between cannabinoids and prochlorperazine regarding the number of participants who reported vomiting, in this same population.

Conclusions: This review identified eight Cochrane systematic reviews that provided evidence of unknown to moderate quality regarding the use of cannabinoids as a therapeutic intervention. Further studies are still imperative for solid conclusions to be reached regarding practical recommendations.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None

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