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 .
The Subjective Psychoactive Effects of Oral Dronabinol Studied in a Randomized, Controlled Crossover Clinical Trial for Pain
Background : Many cannabinoid medications are approved in North America or in phase III trials , such as dronabinol , nabilone , or nabiximols . Little is known about their subjective psychoactive effects when used for pain management . We hypothesized that when used for pain , dronabinol has psychoactive effects in a dose-response relationship , whose peak effects are comparable with smoking marijuana . Methods : This was a r and omized controlled trial of single dose placebo , 10 or 20 mg dronabinol in 30 chronic noncancer pain patients taking opioids and not using marijuana . Participants completed the Addiction Research Center Inventory ( ARCI ) hourly for 8 hours during 3 monitored sessions . Comparison sample was the ARCI ratings in participants with no pain ( N=20 ) , monitored every 30 minutes after smoking a 1.99 % THC ( low ) and a 3.51 % ( high strength ) marijuana cigarette . Results : The 10 and 20 mg dronabinol doses had significantly elevated scores over time on 4/5 subscales versus placebo ( P<0.05 ) . Average daily morphine use , total pain relief ( TOTPAR ) , age , sex , and baseline pain level were not significant covariates . ARCI peak effects at 2 hours were similar to peak effects of smoked marijuana at 30 minutes ( P=0.80 , 10 mg = low strength , 20 mg = high strength ) . Conclusions : In pain patients , oral dronabinol has similar psychoactive effects to smoking marijuana . This risk must be considered in any decision to prescribe cannabinoid medications for pain
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 .