Urgent Question re: Marinol

[TokinChick]

Hi everyone,

This is not for me I am actually writing on behalf of a very sick friend of my mother's who is struggling with what has been called uncurable cancer.

He is working with cancer center and pain clinic and has been prescribed Marinol but isn't sure if he wants to take them because he doesn't know what to expect.

Can someone who knows explain to me what happens when you take Marinol? Does it just cure nausea and pain or do you actually get "high" Just wondering.

[HerbalConfusion]

Do it right YouTube - RUN FROM THE CURE - The Rick Simpson Story (Part 1 of 7) (http://youtube.com/watch?v=pjhT9282-Tw) cure him of his cancer.

[Barrelhse]

Opinion only: my bro-in-law had them for Aids related. I tried some and didn't notice much; he was not impressed with them, either. This was in mid-90's, the med may have improved since then. They are designed to not get you high, I believe- kinda like decaf.

[Coelho]

Well... the WORST that could happen to him is he would get high... and we know that it isnt THAT bad... ;):stoned::rastasmoke::jointsmile:

[birdgirl73]

Dronabinol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dronabinol)

Here's some info, TokinChick. Marinol/dronabinol is designed to stimulate appetite and suppress nausea and vomiting, but it also has psychoactive effects on plenty of patients. Not all of them, but lots do report that happening. Problem is, it's not generally described as a pleasant high. That's because it's purely synthetic THC, and in real whole cannabis, there are numerous other cannabinoids (like CBD and about 65 others, I believe) that, in combination with the THC, modulate those psychoeffects make for a pleasant experience in most people. In marinol, those accompanying modulating chemicals aren't present in the same way. Marinol's not labeled as an analgesic (pain reliever), although what my PDR reference says is that it does have that result in some patients.

They taught us in school that a lot of people have pretty good luck w/ marinol but that it acts very slowly and that, for serious nausea and definitely for pain, there are likely probably other drugs that are more effective for those specific symptoms. Some people have fairly good luck with it helping them get control over their nausea/vomiting and helping them gain weight. We had a friend who had terminal breast cancer a few years ago who had very good luck with it helping her overcome some of her chemo symptoms. She would have been one of those who'd have benefited from real cannabis, I'm sure. Pisses me off that that wouldn't have been a legal option for her in Texas.

Real sorry about your friend's mom!

[painretreat]

I tried it in the '90's. Was expecting many years of pain to disappear and get loaded. My expectations were so high, I don't think anything happened! But, that is only one in many. I wasn't sure if the med was for your friend or his mother! Anyway, I think the doses of marinol may not be equivalent to what was being ingested with canabis. Besides, it taking so 'long to work'! If one cannot take it quickly, the pill is the only option. If it is a liquid form, there are ways to get it to work a little quicker and ask his/her /Dr. I am sure they will understand, or you can ask for a Dr. that does understand. So sorry to hear about this terribly illness, I lost a brother to it, good luck! :hippy:

[TokinChick]

Thanks everyone. It's my mother's boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend but they're still friends.

He has small cell cancer, not sure what kind. He is going for his final round of chemo then he told us "it's all downhill from there" but he is planning a deep sea fishing trip with his buddies in the next few weeks and still gets out and lives his life or what he has left of it, one thing is for sure he is very brave and I am amazed at his courage and attitude. Thanks for the advice everyone!

[humedi]

Marinol is a synthetic THC extract which does not contain other useful cannabinoids.
source (http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4016) "However, to those thousands of patients who find Marinol ineffective or less effective when compared to whole smoked marijuana therapy, this reclassification provides little relief."

"Marinol is not necessarily an adequate substitute for whole smoked marijuana because it lacks several of the drug's medically valuable compounds, known as cannabinoids. Therefore, this decision is not a silver bullet for patients or politicians. Federal law still must be changed to allow those unresponsive to synthetic THC the opportunity to use inhaled marijuana as a legal medical therapy."

Sativex on the other hand is an oromucosal spray derived from natural extracts of the cannabis indica plant, it contains both THC and Cannabidiol. It is a British-made drug but for some stupid reason it is not easily accessible, only in Canada where it is available on full prescription. there are probably trials of the drug going on in the US now, your best bet is getting on one of them. The company that make it are called G.W. Pharmaceutical this is their website GW Pharma Website (http://www.gwpharm.com/)

source (http://production.investis.com/gwp/pressreleases/currentpress/2008-04-09/) successful results for cancer patients with sativex

[purplehaze11]

ive tried marinol before, i had a few aches and pains at the time and it knocked them right out, made me feel very zoned out... gets you high but much different high than smoking

[RobPA]

I would compare it mostly to eating cannabis without the "goofiness". I also got extremely hungry like heavy indicas usually do to me, so it deffenitely helps bring the appetite back but I dident notice much high/pain relief.

[unknownsoldier]

As HerbalConfusion already said:

"Do it right YouTube - RUN FROM THE CURE - The Rick Simpson Story (Part 1 of 7) cure him of his cancer"

I see there has been no response to this, thus I assume you ignored it. Check out the video asap and also have a look at phoenixtears .ca, website of aforementioned info. Also have a look at the yahoo group "oleandersoup", discusses use of oleander extract which has been shown to have a success rate of about 80% for various forms of cancer including so called "incurable" cancers.

[jessejames12345]

Isn't oleander exreamly poisionious ? I will have to read more about this , very interesting :thumbsup:

[RobPA]

Ive heard snake oil cured cancer to. I apologize but that video just made me laugh, and is a poor representation of the Medical Cannabis community and certainly won't help our cause.

[unknownsoldier]

You heard snake oil cured cancer, good for you! Has there ever been any studies exploring this possibility, hmmmm...no. Has there ever been any studies into thc and cancer...plenty. Take a look at StormCrows post re; cannabis and cancer.

http://boards.cannabis.com/medicinal-cannabis-health/158483-my-uncle-dying-humbolt-county.html


From Granny's notebook-

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

Anti-tumor effects of cannabidiol
Short News November 9th 3002

Potâ??s cancer healing properties
Latest News - U.S. War on Drugs Stalling Mind-Blowing Research into Pot's Cancer-Healing Properties

Cannabinoids Inhibit the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway in Gliomas
Cannabinoids Inhibit the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway in Gliomas -- Blázquez et al. 64 (16): 5617 -- Cancer Research

Inhibition of Glioma Growth in Vivo
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cg...61/15/5784.pdf

Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol in patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.
Clinical Studies and Case Reports

Cannabidiol triggers caspase activation and oxidative stress in human glioma cells.
iHOP - The non-psychoactive cannabidiol triggers caspase activation and oxidative stress in human glioma cells.

Cannabinoid receptors in human astroglial tumors
http://www.brainlife.org/abstracts/2..._j20060800.pdf

Cannabis extract makes brain tumors shrink, halts growth of blood vessels
Cannabis extract makes brain tumors shrink, halts growth of blood vessels

THC tested against brain tumour in pilot clinical study
IACM-Bulletin

THC inhibits cell cycle progression in human glioblastoma multiforme cells
Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits cell cycle progression by downregulation of E2F1 in human glioblastoma multiforme cells.

Down-regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 in gliomas
Down-regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 in gliomas: a new marker of cannabinoid antitumoral activity?

Anti-Tumor Effects
Anti-Tumor Effects

Don't know what type he has, but hopefully it is one that responds to cannabis. Hope that helps.

- Granny
__________________
"If the truth won't do, then something is wrong!"
Granny's Grandpa- Rev. J. C. Schwabenland

Need MMJ medical studies? Look here!
http://boards.cannabis.com/medicinal...-gift-you.html