Medicinal use of cannabis avoids daily doses of morphine in patients with chronic pain
A new study, which joins a series of emerging research, suggests that cannabis is effective in reducing opioid use
By João R. Negromonte
Published in the journal Pain Physician, new research found that patients with chronic pain who received cannabis reduced their average daily opioid intake by 67%, with morphine being the main component avoided during the tests.
In a second round of studies, the researchers closely monitoring the process observed that the increase in the rate of reduction of the medication use, in this case morphine, was even greater, rising from 67% to 73%.
The authors of the study, a group of researchers from the Pain Medicine Institute in Pennsylvania, reveal that two options were given to patients in chronic opioid therapy. The first was to take cannabis with a reduction of the already administered treatment, and the second was to maintain the current dosage continuously in addition to the plant derivatives.
“In this way, maximizing the effectiveness of reducing opioid intake, concerns related to the use of multiple medications decrease,” explains the study.
Methodology
To conduct the study, 115 patients were selected from the Pain Medicine Institute in Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, USA. Most patients were aged between 50 and 70 years and had consumed opioids for at least 6 months before starting treatment with cannabis.
Of these patients, 75 chose to continue treatment with medicinal cannabis, reporting a significant reduction in pain and opioid use. Another group of 30 patients reported not finding the treatment effective or experienced undesirable side effects.
Various types of pain were reported by patients, including some more common ones such as post-laminectomy syndrome – when even after surgical intervention the patient continues to feel significant discomfort in the affected area – rheumatoid arthritis, fractures, among others.
Avoiding inhaled or vaporized use, the doses of cannabinoids administered, such as THC, were gradually increased, using only oil rich in plant components for auxiliary treatment. In this way, according to the study, it ensures that the amount administered to each patient is equal, guaranteeing the quality and standardization of the tests.
This new research adds to several others that have been constantly emerging in the scientific community regarding the reduction of opioid use with the use of cannabis derivatives.
Other studies
New research is constantly emerging showing the link between the decrease in opioid use and the onset of cannabis therapy. One of them was a study conducted by Harvard Medical School in conjunction with the University of Kentucky, which revealed that after cannabis legalization laws were enacted in some U.S. states, opioid prescriptions for adults significantly decreased for those with private health insurance.
Another study that caught attention shows similar results. Conducted by Tilray Inc. (a Canadian pharmaceutical and cannabis company), the research indicated that daily opioid use among patients using cannabis dropped by 78%.
It is still too early to assert that cannabis can be the solution to the opioid crisis in the U.S.; however, with the emergence of new studies, this treatment alternative is becoming increasingly tangible, revealing the effectiveness of cannabinoid therapy in various pathologies, including those related to medication dependence.