Cannabinoid therapy helps provide effective relief for cancer patients with pain that responded poorly to opioids, according to results of a trial reported in The Journal of Pain.
In the randomized multicenter study, nabiximols, a cannabinoid delivered as an oral spray, was given to patients with active cancer and chronic pain that was moderate to severe despite taking opioids. Every day in the five-week study, patients responded to questions to rate their pain, gauge their sleep quality, and determine how many sprays of the nabiximols they were taking.
The study showed that nabiximols provided effective pain relief when used as an add-on therapy for cancer patients. In the low-dose nabiximols group, there was a 25 percent improvement in pain. However, there was no measurable pain relief effect in the high-dose group, only 66 percent of which finished the study.
New Tennessee Law Requires Physicians to Use Drug Monitoring Database
4 Steps to Greater Collaboration Between Pain Management & Primary Care
In the randomized multicenter study, nabiximols, a cannabinoid delivered as an oral spray, was given to patients with active cancer and chronic pain that was moderate to severe despite taking opioids. Every day in the five-week study, patients responded to questions to rate their pain, gauge their sleep quality, and determine how many sprays of the nabiximols they were taking.
The study showed that nabiximols provided effective pain relief when used as an add-on therapy for cancer patients. In the low-dose nabiximols group, there was a 25 percent improvement in pain. However, there was no measurable pain relief effect in the high-dose group, only 66 percent of which finished the study.
Related Articles on Pain Management:
Exercise Can Reduce Nerve Pain, Study SaysNew Tennessee Law Requires Physicians to Use Drug Monitoring Database
4 Steps to Greater Collaboration Between Pain Management & Primary Care