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 .
Dronabinol increases pain threshold in patients with functional chest pain: a pilot double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Noncardiac chest pain is associated with poor quality of life and high care expenditure . The majority of noncardiac chest pain is either gastresophageal reflux disease related or due to esophageal motility disorders , and the rest are considered functional chest pain ( FCP ) due to central and peripheral hypersensitivity . Current treatment of FCP improves 40 - 50 % of patients . Cannabinoid receptors 1 ( CB1 ) and 2 ( CB2 ) modulate release of neurotransmitters ; CB1 is located in the esophageal epithelium and reduces excitatory enteric transmission and potentially could reduce esophageal hypersensitivity . We performed a prospect i ve study to evaluate its effects on pain threshold , frequency , and intensity in FCP . Subjects with FCP received dronabinol ( 5 mg , twice daily ; n = 7 ; average age , 44 years ; mean body mass index , 26.7 ) or placebo ( n = 6 ; average age , 42 years ; mean body mass index , 25.9 ) for 28 days ( 4 weeks ) . Chest pain , general health , and anxiety/depression question naires were assessed at baseline and at 4 weeks . Subjects underwent an esophageal balloon distention test prior to treatment and on last day of the study . Dronabinol  increased pain thresholds significantly ( 3.0 vs. 1.0 ; P = 0.03 ) and reduced pain intensity and odynophagia compared to placebo ( 0.18 vs. 0.01 and 0.12 vs. 0.01 , respectively , P = 0.04 ) . Depression and anxiety scores did not differ between the groups at baseline or after treatment . No significant adverse effects were observed . In this novel study , dronabinol increased pain threshold and reduced frequency and intensity of pain in FCP . Further , large scale studies are needed to substantiate these findings
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 .