Table 2. Characteristics of included randomised controlled trials of THC:CBD combination in older adults (N = 26).
| Study ID (country) | Study Design | CBD/THC: Sample included/analysed N Mean age (SD), Male % |
Comparator: Sample included/analysed N Mean age (SD), Male % |
Age cut-off for enrolment | Indication | CBD/THC classification | Comparator | CBD/THC treatment duration, weeks | Calculated daily average CBD/THC dose | GRADE rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Blake et al. 2006 (UK) |
Parallel-arm | 31/31 60.9 (10.6), 26 |
27/27 64.9 (8.5), 15 |
NR | Rheumatoid arthritis | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 5.0 | 14.6 mg THC: 13.5 mg CBD | Low |
|
**Carroll et al. 2004 (UK) |
Crossover | 19/17 67.0 (NR) 63 |
19/17 67.0 (NR) 63 |
18–78 years | Levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson disease | Cannabis extract | Placebo | 4.0 | 10.2 mg THC: 5.1 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Duran et al. 2010 (Spain) |
Parallel-arm | 7/7 50 (41–70)* 0 |
9/9 50 (34–76)* 11 |
>18 years | Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | .6 | 13 mg THC: 12 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Fallon et al. 2017, 1 (Multicentre)|| |
Parallel-arm (withdrawal study) | 103/103 61.4 (10.9), 61 |
103103 61.6 (11.8), 53 |
≥18 years | Advanced cancer patients with pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 5.0 | 17.6 mg THC: 16.3 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Fallon et al. 2017, 2 (Multicentre)|| |
Parallel-arm | 200/199 60.0 (11), 53 |
199/198 59.6 (11), 49 |
≥18 years | Advanced cancer patients with pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 5.0 | 17 mg THC: 15.8 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Jadoon et al. 2016, 1 (UK)‡,§ |
Parallel-arm | 11/11 59.0 (8.8), 55 |
14/14 59.0 (7.7), 50 |
≥18 years | Type 2 diabetes | CBD/THCV | Placebo | 13.0 | 10 mg THC: 10 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Jadoon et al. 2016, 2 (UK)‡,§ |
Parallel-arm | 12/12 58.0 (8.1), 75 |
14/14 59.0 (7.7), 50 |
≥18 years | Type 2 diabetes | CBD/THCV | Placebo | 13.0 | 10 mg THC: 200 mg CBD | Moderate |
| Johnson et al. 2010, (UK)§ | Parallel-arm | 60/60 59.4 (12.1), 55 |
59/59 60.1 (12.3), 54 |
NR | Patients with cancer-related pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 2.0 | 25 mg THC: 23 mg CBD | Moderate |
| Litchman et al. 2018, (Multicentre) | Parallel-arm | 199/199 59.2 (12), 56 |
198/198 60.7 (11.1), 52 |
≥18 years | Advanced cancer patients with pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 5.0 | 17.3 mg THC: 16 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Lynch et al. 2014 (USA) |
Crossover | 18/16 56.0 (10.8), 17 |
18/16 56.0 (10.8), 17 |
NR | Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 6.0 | 21.6 mg THC: 20 mg CBD | Low |
|
Markova et al. 2019 (Czech Republic) |
Parallel-arm | 53/53 51.3 (10.2) 30 |
53/53 51.3 (10.2) 30 |
≥18 years | Multiple sclerosis | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 12.0 | 19.7 mg THC: 18.3 mg CBD | Low |
|
Notcutt et al. 2012 (UK) |
Parallel-arm (withdrawal study) | 18/18 59.7 (9) 50 |
18/18 54.4 (10.4) 33 |
NR | Multiple sclerosis | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 4.0 | 20.8 mg THC: 19.3 mg CBD | Very low |
|
Nurmikko et al. 2007 (UK) |
Parallel-arm | 63/63 52.4 (15.8), 44 |
62/62 54.3 (15.2), 37 |
≥18 years | Neuropathic pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 5.0 | THC 29.7 mg: CBD 27.5 mg | High |
|
***Pickering et al. 2011, 1 (UK)¶ |
Crossover | 5/4 67.0 (NR), 50 |
5/4 67.0 (NR), 50 |
40–74 years | COPD | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | .1 | 4.7 mg THC: 4.4 mg CBD | Low |
|
**Pickering et al. 2011, 2 (UK)¶ |
Crossover | 6/5 58.0 (NR), 80 |
6/5 58.0 (NR), 80 |
40–75 years | Healthy controls | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | .1 | 10.3 mg THC: 9.5 mg CBD | Low |
|
Portenoy et al. 2012, 1 (Multicentre)‡ |
Parallel-arm | 91/91 59.0 (12.3), 49 |
91/91 56.0 (12.2), 48 |
NR | Cancer patients with chronic pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 5.0 | 10.8 mg THC: 10 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Portenoy et al. 2012, 2 (Multicentre)‡ |
Parallel-arm | 88/87 59.0 (13.1), 56 |
91/91 56.0 (12.2), 48 |
NR | Cancer patients with chronic pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 5.0 | 27 mg THC: 25 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Portenoy et al. 2012, 3 (Multicentre)‡ |
Parallel-arm | 90/90 58.0 (11.2), 53 |
91/91 56.0 (12.2), 48 |
NR | Cancer patients with chronic pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 5.0 | 43.2 mg THC: 40 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Riva et al. 2019 (Italy) |
Parallel-arm | 30/29 58.4 (10.6) 62 |
30/30 57.2 (13.8) 53 |
18–80 years | Motor neurone disease | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 6.0 | 21.6 mg THC: 20.0 mg CBD | High |
|
Serpell et al. 2014 (UK) |
Parallel-arm | 128/128 57.6 (14.4), 34 |
118/118 57.0 (14.1), 45 |
≥18 years | Neuropathic pain | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 14.0 | 24 mg THC: 22 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Strasser et al. 2006 (Germany)§ |
Parallel-arm | 95/95 61.0 (12), 56 |
48/48 62.0 (10), 52 |
Adult | Cancer-related anorexia | Cannabis extract | Placebo | 6.0 | 5 mg THC: 2 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Vaney et al. 2004 (Switzerland) |
Crossover | 57/50 55.0 (10), 49 |
57/50 55.0 (10), 49 |
Adult | Multiple sclerosis | Cannabis extract | Placebo | 2.0 | 27.5 mg THC: 9.9 mg CBD | Low |
|
Wade et al. 2004 (UK) |
Parallel-arm | 80/80 51.0 (9.4), 41 |
80/80 50.0 (9.3), 35 |
NR | Multiple sclerosis | THC:CBD spray | Placebo | 6.0 | 40.5 mg THC: 37.5 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Zajicek et al. 2003 (UK)§ |
Parallel-arm | 219/211 51.0 (7.6), 36 |
222/213 51.0 (7.6), 37 |
18–64 years | Multiple sclerosis | Cannabis extract | Placebo | 14.0 | 25 mg THC: 12.5 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Zajicek et al. 2005 (UK)§ |
Parallel-arm | 138/138 51.0 (7.6), 36 |
120/120 51.0 (7.6), 37 |
18–64 years | Multiple sclerosis | Cannabis extract | Placebo | 52.0 | 25 mg THC: 12.5 mg CBD | Moderate |
|
Zajicek et al. 2012 (UK) |
Parallel-arm | 144/143 51.9 (7.7), 39 |
135/134 52.0 (7.9), 35 |
18–64 years | Multiple sclerosis | Cannabis extract | Placebo | 12.0 | 25 mg THC: 12.5 mg CBD | Moderate |
**Studies recruited participants ≥50years.
*Median age (range).
||Article included the results of multiple trials.
‡Article included more than 1 dose level.
§Article included more than 1 cannabinoid intervention.
***Studies recruited participants ≥65 years.
¶Article included multiple study groups/indications.
CBD, cannabidiol; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation; NR, not recorded; THC, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; THCV, tetrahydrocannabivarin.