There was an increased risk of non-serious AEs with cannabinoids compared with placebo .
Conclusions There was moderate evidence to support cannabinoids in treating chronic , non-cancer pain at 2 weeks .
Similar results were observed at later time points , but the confidence in effect is low .
There is little evidence that cannabinoids increase the risk of experiencing serious AEs , although non-serious AEs may be common in the short-term period following use
Background For patients with chronic , non-cancer pain , traditional pain-relieving medications include opioids , which have shown benefits but are associated with increased risks of addiction and adverse effects .
Medical cannabis has emerged as a treatment alternative for managing these patients and there has been a rise in the number of r and omized clinical trials in recent years ; therefore , a systematic review of the evidence was warranted .
Objective To analyze the evidence surrounding the benefits and harms of medical cannabinoids in the treatment of chronic , non-cancer-related pain .
Sativex® as add-on therapy vs. further optimized first-line ANTispastics (SAVANT) in resistant multiple sclerosis spasticity: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised clinical trial
Abstract Purpose / aim : To evaluate the efficacy of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC):cannabidiol ( CBD ) oromucosal spray ( Sativex ® ) as add-on therapy to optimised st and ard antispasticity treatment in patients with moderate to severe multiple sclerosis ( MS ) spasticity . Methods : Sativex ® as add-on therapy vs. further optimised first-line ANTispastics ( SAVANT ) was a two-phase trial . In Phase A , eligible patients received add-on THC : CBD spray for 4 weeks to identify initial responders [ ≥20 % improvement from baseline in spasticity 0–10 numerical rating scale ( NRS ) score ] . Following washout , eligible initial responders were r and omised to receive THC : CBD spray or placebo for 12 weeks ( double-blinded , Phase B ) . Optimisation of underlying antispasticity medications was permitted in both groups across all study periods . Results : Of 191 patients who entered Phase A , 106 were r and omised in Phase B to receive add-on THC : CBD spray ( n = 53 ) or placebo ( n = 53 ) . The proportion of clinical ly relevant responders after 12 weeks ( ≥30 % NRS improvement ; primary efficacy endpoint ) was significantly greater with THC : CBD spray than placebo ( 77.4 vs. 32.1 % ; p < 0.0001 ) . Compared with placebo , THC : CBD spray also significantly improved key secondary endpoints : changes in mean spasticity NRS ( p < 0.0001 ) , mean pain NRS ( p = 0.0013 ) , and mean modified Ashworth ’s scale ( p = 0.0007 ) scores from Phase B baseline to week 12 . Adverse events , when present , were mild/moderate and without new safety concerns . Conclusions : Add-on THC : CBD oromucosal spray provided better and clinical ly relevant improvement of resistant MS spasticity compared with adjusting first-line antispasticity medication alone
There was an increased risk of non-serious AEs with cannabinoids compared with placebo .
Conclusions There was moderate evidence to support cannabinoids in treating chronic , non-cancer pain at 2 weeks .
Similar results were observed at later time points , but the confidence in effect is low .
There is little evidence that cannabinoids increase the risk of experiencing serious AEs , although non-serious AEs may be common in the short-term period following use
Background For patients with chronic , non-cancer pain , traditional pain-relieving medications include opioids , which have shown benefits but are associated with increased risks of addiction and adverse effects .
Medical cannabis has emerged as a treatment alternative for managing these patients and there has been a rise in the number of r and omized clinical trials in recent years ; therefore , a systematic review of the evidence was warranted .
Objective To analyze the evidence surrounding the benefits and harms of medical cannabinoids in the treatment of chronic , non-cancer-related pain .