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Cannabis and Cannabinoids for Chronic Pain
E Alfonso Romero-Sandoval1, Ashley L Kolano2, P Abigail Alvarado-Vázquez3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Mechanisms Laboratory, Anesthesiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 1 Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA. earomero.sandoval@gmail.com.
Current Rheumatology Reports
|October 7, 2017
Summary
Inhaled cannabis effectively reduces chronic pain, while oral cannabinoids offer limited benefits for specific conditions. Long-term safety and efficacy require further research and open discussion.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
- Cannabis Research
Background:
- Cannabis and its constituents (cannabinoids) are increasingly explored for pain relief.
- Understanding the efficacy and safety of cannabis for various pain types is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current scientific evidence on the analgesic effects of cannabis and cannabinoids.
- To evaluate the safety and tolerability of long-term cannabis or cannabinoid use.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing scientific literature.
- Analysis of studies investigating inhaled and oral cannabis/cannabinoid administration for pain.
Main Results:
- Inhaled cannabis demonstrates consistent effectiveness for chronic non-cancer pain.
- Oral cannabinoids show potential for improving sleep and quality of life in chronic pain, but not for acute or specific rheumatoid pain.
- Inhaled cannabis appears more tolerable and predictable than oral formulations.
Conclusions:
- Cannabis and cannabinoids are not universally effective for all pain types.
- Further research is needed on cannabis constituents and oral cannabinoid bioavailability.
- Open discussions on medical vs. recreational use, opioid co-administration, and abuse potential are essential.
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