Medical Cannabis Treatment for Chronic Pain: Outcomes and Prediction of Response

ConclusionsThis prospective study provides further evidence for the effects of MC on chronic pain and related symptoms, demonstrating an overall mild to modest long ‐term improvement of the tested measures and identifying possible predictors for treatment success.SignificanceThis "real world" paper shows that MC mildly to modestly attenuates chronic pain and related symptoms. MC treatment can also cause frequent,but mostly non ‐serious adverse effects, although central nervous system (CNS)‐related AEs that can impair the ability to drive vehicles are not uncommon. This study is novel in identifying possible predictors for treatment success, including normal to long sleep duration, lower BMI and lower depression scores . In contrast to current beliefs the diagnosis of neuropathic pain predicts a less favorable outcome. These findings provide physicians with new data to support decision making on recommendations for MC treatment.

Source: European Journal of Pain - October 16, 2020 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Joshua Aviram, Dorit Pud, Tamar Gershoni, Bareket Schiff ‐Keren, Miriam Ogintz, Simon Vulfsons, Tamar Yashar, Adahan Haim‐Moshe, Silviu Brill, Howard Amital, Itay Goor‐Aryeh, Dror Robinson, Leslie Green, Refael Segal, Yacov Fogelman, Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research