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RecruitingNCT06137027Updated Nov 18, 2023

Cannabidiol Oil Extract for Prevention of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Cannabidiol Oil and Placebo in Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, sponsored by The University of The West Indies. Recruiting at 1 site in Jamaica. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-11-18.

Sponsored by The University of The West Indies · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Prevention

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jan 2024, 2 years 9 months ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Sep 2023; still recruiting 3 years 1 month later.
Phase
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
120
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Cannabidiol oil has been shown to be effective in treating chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, but there is limited information on its usefulness in nausea and vomiting that can occur after surgery. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of Cannabidiol oil on the frequency of nausea and vomiting in the first 24 hours after a gynaecological procedure. Other effects that will be assessed will include:

  1. The effect of Cannabidiol oil on the level of pain and amount of pain medications needed in the first 24 hours after a gynaecological operation.
  2. The effect of Cannabidiol oil on patients' overall satisfaction with the anaesthetic experience.

Some participants will be administered Cannabidiol oil under the tongue two to three hours before their procedure and an equal number will receive a placebo oil, similar in taste. This will be done randomly to minimise introducing bias. We will then compare both groups in the postoperative period to see if the Cannabidiol oil made any difference.

Read the detailed description

The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Cannabidiol oil on postoperative nausea and vomiting in elective gynaecological surgical patients undergoing general anaesthesia at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica and to determine if total analgesic requirements are reduced in the intervention group in the first 24 hours.

Primary Objective:

To compare the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in gynaecological patients who receive 5.5mg of Cannabidiol oil sublingually two to three hours preoperatively to those receiving a placebo in adult elective gynaecological surgical patients.

Secondary Objectives:

  • To compare the total amount of rescue anti-emetic medications administered in the first 24 hours postoperatively between the group receiving Cannabidiol oil and the placebo group.
  • To compare total analgesic requirements in the first 24 hours postoperatively between those receiving Cannabidiol oil and the placebo group.
  • To compare the level of patient satisfaction with the overall anaesthetic experience between the intervention group and the placebo group.

We propose to use a dose of 5.5mg sublingually based on studies which have demonstrated the effectiveness of these for chemotherapy induced vomiting. As there are numerous factors which may affect postoperative nausea and vomiting, including sex, type of surgery and degree of postoperative pain, we will include only female patients undergoing gynaecological surgery to minimise these confounding factors. Of note, this patient group is one of the high-risk groups for postoperative nausea and vomiting, with an incidence in obstetrics and gynaecology of 40-80%. Cannabidiol oil is typically well tolerated with a favourable side effect profile as it non psychoactive. Previous studies have documented that the most common side effects observed were somnolence, sedation and altered mood.

Recruitment of patients will be done on the ward on the day prior to surgery. Time will be allowed for questioning and gathering of information and all risks will be explained. Written consent will be obtained by the researcher, or the research assistant, who will not be involved in the intra-operative management of the patient. The preoperative assessment will be conducted by the anaesthetist as per usual.

The study will be a single centre, double-blinded (patient and attending Anaesthetist) randomised controlled trial. Patients will be randomly allocated into one of two groups:

  • Group 1 - Intervention group
  • Group 2 - Placebo group

A sample size of 120 patients was calculated, 60 per group, based on an alpha value of 0.05, beta value of 0.2 and an expected proportion of 50%. An increase by 10% was done to address anticipated drop outs. The Intervention group will receive 5.5mg (10 drops) of Cannabidiol oil (infused peppermint oil) sublingually. The placebo group will receive 10 drops of peppermint oil or similar taste.

The intervention (Cannabidiol oil) and placebo will be placed in identical amber, 2ml glass bottles, each having a different assigned number-letter code. The assigned codes will be computer generated and the bottles will be labelled by the pharmacist. The participants will be randomised using an online randomiser programme (www.randomization.com). The pharmacist will assign an appropriate code to the patient/s based on the randomisation table on the day prior to surgery, which will be given to the researcher.

Two to three hours prior to surgery, the assigned agent will be administered by the researcher or assistant. The person administering the intervention will not participate in the conduct of anaesthesia or the collection of data. A protocol is in place to monitor and manage any untoward adverse drug reactions, including anaphylaxis. A standardized technique of General Anaesthesia will be implemented:

  • Induction with propofol at 2mg/kg
  • Muscle relaxation with Cisatracurium 0.1mg/kg
  • Morphine 0.1mg/kg
  • Panadol 1g

Data will be collected on medications administered, length of anaesthesia and estimated blood loss. For antiemetic prophylaxis, a standardised protocol of dexamethasone 8mg and dimenhydrinate 0.5mg/kg (\~50mg) will be given. In the postoperative period, the rescue protocol in the event of an episode of vomiting or severe nausea is as follows:

  1. Step 1: Repeat dose of dexamethasone 4mg
  2. Step 2 if no resolution: Kytril 1mg

The proposed study will also include an assessment of the risk of post operative nausea and vomiting, assessment of the presence and severity of any nausea and vomiting and an assessment of patient satisfaction with their overall anaesthesia experience. The Apfel score will be used to assess the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and includes four factors: sex, smoking history, previous history of nausea and vomiting or motion sickness and any plan to use postoperative opioids by the medical team. This produces a score between I and IV and the risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting increases with an increasing score. An Apfel score of I usually carries a 20% risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting and this increases to 80% with a score of IV. The purpose of determining the Apfel score at the time of written consent is to evaluate the effect of the Cannabidiol intervention on not only the overall incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, but also to be able to determine how it affects different risk groups. The BARF scale will be used to assess the presence of nausea, which is a subjective sensation and challenging to capture.It consists of six faces, with a scale from 0 to 10. The BARF scale will be checked on arrival to and on discharge from the Post Anaesthetic Care Unit. The Leiden Peri-operative care Patient Satisfaction questionnaire (LPPSq) will be used to assess patient satisfaction and will be conducted 24 to 48 hours postoperatively. It assesses satisfaction with respect to information received, any fears and concerns, professional competence, service and staff-patient relationships.

The data will be collected by the anaesthesia and recovery room nursing staff from the intra-operative anaesthetic and recovery room records. The researcher will then collect all sheets and conduct the patient satisfaction questionnaire between 24 and 48 hours postoperatively. The Apfel score will be assessed by the anaesthetist in charge of the patient at the preoperative visit. The BARF scale will be done by the recovery room and ward nursing staff.

Data will be entered into and analysed using SPSS v. 26.

02

Conditions studied

  • Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Keywords

  • Cannabidiol oil
  • Postoperative nausea and vomiting
  • Patient satisfaction
03

In context

Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

638 studies on the registry are indexed under Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting; 110 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 120 is close to the median of 112 across 529 interventional studies indexed under Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting.

Browse Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting studies →

Lead sponsor

The University of The West Indies is the lead sponsor of 64 studies on the registry; 15 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

All patients for elective gynaecological surgical procedures under general anaesthesia at the Main operating theatre, UHWI between the ages of 18-65 years.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Reported allergy to cannabis/CBD by products, coconut oil, peppermint oil
  • Patients \< 18 years
  • Patients experiencing disease related nausea and vomiting
  • Patients with psychological/psychiatric illnesses which prevent communication or impairs their ability to give
  • Patients undergoing regional anaesthesia
  • to medicinal cannabis such as unstable cardiovascular disease, substance use disorder, or significant mental health disorder
  • Cannabis use within 30 days of surgery
  • Pregnancy
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

05

Study design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator)
Enrollment
120 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Cannabidiol Oil

    Cannabidiol oil 5.5mg, equivalent to 10 drops

    Drug: Cannabidiol Oil

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    Peppermint oil, 10 drops

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • Cannabidiol oil will be administered sublingually 2-3 hours preoperatively

    Also known as: CBD

  • DrugPlacebo

    Placebo will be administered sublingually 2-3 hours preoperatively

    Also known as: PLA

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Post Operative Vomiting

    All episodes of vomiting will be recorded by the nursing staff in the Post anaesthesia care unit and after discharge, by the ward nurses for the first 24 hours after surgery.

    Time frame: 24 hours post surgery

  2. Postoperative Nausea

    The BARF score will be administered by the nursing staff in the Post anaesthesia care unit to assess nausea on admission and on discharge from the unit. It will also be assessed by the ward nurses at 4 hour intervals during vital checks for the first 24 hours after surgery.

    Time frame: 24 hours post surgery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Total analgesic requirements

    All analgesics administered in the Post Anaesthesia Care unit and on the ward up to 24 hours post procedure will be documented.

    Time frame: 24 hours post surgery

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Becker DE. Nausea, vomiting, and hiccups: a review of mechanisms and treatment. Anesth Prog. 2010 Winter;57(4):150-6; quiz 157. doi: 10.2344/0003-3006-57.4.150. PubMed 21174569 ↗
  • Bashashati M, McCallum RW. Neurochemical mechanisms and pharmacologic strategies in managing nausea and vomiting related to cyclic vomiting syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders. Eur J Pharmacol. 2014 Jan 5;722:79-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.09.075. Epub 2013 Oct 22. PubMed 24161560 ↗
  • Macario A, Weinger M, Carney S, Kim A. Which clinical anesthesia outcomes are important to avoid? The perspective of patients. Anesth Analg. 1999 Sep;89(3):652-8. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199909000-00022. PubMed 10475299 ↗
  • Apfel CC, Laara E, Koivuranta M, Greim CA, Roewer N. A simplified risk score for predicting postoperative nausea and vomiting: conclusions from cross-validations between two centers. Anesthesiology. 1999 Sep;91(3):693-700. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199909000-00022. PubMed 10485781 ↗
  • Kakodkar PS. Routine use of dexamethasone for postoperative nausea and vomiting: the case for. Anaesthesia. 2013 Sep;68(9):889-91. doi: 10.1111/anae.12308. Epub 2013 Jul 15. No abstract available. PubMed 23848292 ↗
  • Tien M, Gan TJ, Dhakal I, White WD, Olufolabi AJ, Fink R, Mishriky BM, Lacassie HJ, Habib AS. The effect of anti-emetic doses of dexamethasone on postoperative blood glucose levels in non-diabetic and diabetic patients: a prospective randomised controlled study. Anaesthesia. 2016 Sep;71(9):1037-43. doi: 10.1111/anae.13544. PubMed 27523051 ↗
  • Roden DM. Drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval. N Engl J Med. 2004 Mar 4;350(10):1013-22. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra032426. No abstract available. PubMed 14999113 ↗
  • Kothari SN, Boyd WC, Bottcher ML, Lambert PJ. Antiemetic efficacy of prophylactic dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) vs ondansetron (Zofran): a randomized, prospective trial inpatients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Endosc. 2000 Oct;14(10):926-9. doi: 10.1007/s004640080055. PubMed 11080405 ↗
  • Cabral GA, Raborn ES, Griffin L, Dennis J, Marciano-Cabral F. CB2 receptors in the brain: role in central immune function. Br J Pharmacol. 2008 Jan;153(2):240-51. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0707584. Epub 2007 Nov 26. PubMed 18037916 ↗
  • D'Souza DC, Perry E, MacDougall L, Ammerman Y, Cooper T, Wu YT, Braley G, Gueorguieva R, Krystal JH. The psychotomimetic effects of intravenous delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy individuals: implications for psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2004 Aug;29(8):1558-72. doi: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300496. PubMed 15173844 ↗
  • Parker LA, Rock EM, Limebeer CL. Regulation of nausea and vomiting by cannabinoids. Br J Pharmacol. 2011 Aug;163(7):1411-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.2010.01176.x. PubMed 21175589 ↗
  • Legare CA, Raup-Konsavage WM, Vrana KE. Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis, Cannabidiol, and Cannabinoid-Based Pharmaceuticals. Pharmacology. 2022;107(3-4):131-149. doi: 10.1159/000521683. Epub 2022 Jan 28. PubMed 35093949 ↗
  • Izzo AA, Borrelli F, Capasso R, Di Marzo V, Mechoulam R. Non-psychotropic plant cannabinoids: new therapeutic opportunities from an ancient herb. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Oct;30(10):515-27. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2009.07.006. Epub 2009 Sep 2. Erratum In: Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Dec;30(12):609. PubMed 19729208 ↗
  • Grimison P, Mersiades A, Kirby A, Lintzeris N, Morton R, Haber P, Olver I, Walsh A, McGregor I, Cheung Y, Tognela A, Hahn C, Briscoe K, Aghmesheh M, Fox P, Abdi E, Clarke S, Della-Fiorentina S, Shannon J, Gedye C, Begbie S, Simes J, Stockler M. Oral THC:CBD cannabis extract for refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase II crossover trial. Ann Oncol. 2020 Nov;31(11):1553-1560. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.07.020. Epub 2020 Aug 13. PubMed 32801017 ↗
  • Hosseini A, McLachlan AJ, Lickliter JD. A phase I trial of the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol administered as single-dose oil solution and single and multiple doses of a sublingual wafer in healthy volunteers. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Apr;87(4):2070-2077. doi: 10.1111/bcp.14617. Epub 2020 Nov 18. PubMed 33075170 ↗
  • Nitecka-Buchta A, Nowak-Wachol A, Wachol K, Walczynska-Dragon K, Olczyk P, Batoryna O, Kempa W, Baron S. Myorelaxant Effect of Transdermal Cannabidiol Application in Patients with TMD: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial. J Clin Med. 2019 Nov 6;8(11):1886. doi: 10.3390/jcm8111886. PubMed 31698733 ↗
  • Alaia MJ, Hurley ET, Vasavada K, Markus DH, Britton B, Gonzalez-Lomas G, Rokito AS, Jazrawi LM, Kaplan K. Buccally Absorbed Cannabidiol Shows Significantly Superior Pain Control and Improved Satisfaction Immediately After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blinded, Randomized Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2022 Sep;50(11):3056-3063. doi: 10.1177/03635465221109573. Epub 2022 Jul 29. PubMed 35905305 ↗
  • Echeverria-Villalobos M, Fiorda-Diaz J, Uribe A, Bergese SD. Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Female Patients Undergoing Breast and Gynecological Surgery: A Narrative Review of Risk Factors and Prophylaxis. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Jul 1;9:909982. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.909982. eCollection 2022. PubMed 35847822 ↗
  • Mahmood L, Hegde R, Mariswami M, Ollapally A. Validation of the Apfel scoring system for identification of High-risk patients for PONV. Karnataka Anaesthesia Journal. 2015;1:115.
  • White P, Shafer A, editors. Nausea and vomiting: causes and prophylaxis. Seminars in anesthesia; 1987
  • Baxter AL, Watcha MF, Baxter WV, Leong T, Wyatt MM. Development and validation of a pictorial nausea rating scale for children. Pediatrics. 2011 Jun;127(6):e1542-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-1410. Epub 2011 May 29. Erratum In: Pediatrics. 2011 Nov;128(5):1004. PubMed 21624874 ↗
  • Şişman H, Aslan F, Özgen R, Alptekin D, Akil Y. Validity and Reliability Study of the Baxter Animated Retching Faces Nausea Scale. Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing. 2016;5:98-106.
  • Caljouw MA, van Beuzekom M, Boer F. Patient's satisfaction with perioperative care: development, validation, and application of a questionnaire. Br J Anaesth. 2008 May;100(5):637-44. doi: 10.1093/bja/aen034. Epub 2008 Mar 12. PubMed 18337271 ↗
  • Jlala HA, Caljouw MA, Bedforth NM, Hardman JG. Patient satisfaction with perioperative care among patients having orthopedic surgery in a university hospital. Local Reg Anesth. 2010;3:49-55. doi: 10.2147/lra.s11381. Epub 2010 Jul 28. PubMed 22915869 ↗
09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Started Sep 2023 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jan 2024, 4 months after the start.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
May 3, 2023
First posted
Nov 18, 2023
StartActual
Sep 21, 2023
Primary completionEst.
Jan 31, 2024
CompletionEst.
Feb 29, 2024
Last update
Nov 18, 2023
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 18, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06137027
Lead sponsor
The University of The West Indies
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 18, 2023
Start date
Sep 21, 2023
Primary completion
Jan 31, 2024 (estimated)
Completion
Feb 29, 2024 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 18, 2023

Study contacts

Vanessa Minott
Contact
vanessa.minott@mymona.uwi.edu
876-455-2780
Ingrid Tennant, DM, PhD
principal investigator · University Hospital of the West Indies

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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