Pain intensity of chronic non-cancer patients was reduced by cannabinoids consumption , but effect sizes were small .
Efficacy for neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain was similar
There is growing interest in using cannabinoids for chronic pain .
We performed a systematic review and meta- analysis of r and omized controlled trials to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of cannabinoids for chronic non-cancer pain .
Nabilone for the treatment of pain in fibromyalgia.
UNLABELLED A r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial was conducted to determine the benefit of nabilone in pain management and quality of life improvement in 40 patients with fibromyalgia . After a baseline assessment , subjects were titrated up on nabilone , from 0.5 mg PO at bedtime to 1 mg BID over 4 weeks or received a corresponding placebo . At the 2- and 4-week visits , the primary outcome measure , visual analog scale ( VAS ) for pain , and the secondary outcome measures , number of tender points , the average tender point pain threshold , and the Fibromyalgia Impact Question naire ( FIQ ) , were evaluated . After a 4-week washout period , subjects returned for re assessment of the outcome measures . There were no significant differences in population demographics between groups at baseline . There were significant decreases in the VAS ( -2.04 , P < .02 ) , FIQ ( -12.07 , P < .02 ) , and anxiety ( -1.67 , P < .02 ) in the nabilone treated group at 4 weeks . There were no significant improvements in the placebo group . The treatment group experienced more side effects per person at 2 and 4 weeks ( 1.58 , P < .02 and 1.54 , P < .05 ) , respectively . Nabilone appears to be a beneficial , well-tolerated treatment option for fibromyalgia patients , with significant benefits in pain relief and functional improvement . PERSPECTIVE To our knowledge , this is the first r and omized , controlled trial to assess the benefit of nabilone , a synthetic cannabinoid , on pain reduction and quality of life improvement in patients with fibromyalgia . As nabilone improved symptoms and was well-tolerated , it may be a useful adjunct for pain management in fibromyalgia
Pain intensity of chronic non-cancer patients was reduced by cannabinoids consumption , but effect sizes were small .
Efficacy for neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain was similar
There is growing interest in using cannabinoids for chronic pain .
We performed a systematic review and meta- analysis of r and omized controlled trials to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and adverse effects of cannabinoids for chronic non-cancer pain .