THC resembles cannabinoid chemicals that occur naturally in the body. When people ingest or inhale THC, it stimulates cannabinoid receptors in the brain. This activates the brain's reward system and reduces pain levels. In addition to the clinical trials already discussed, a handful of case studies and surveys have addressed the ability of marijuana or cannabinoids to relieve pain.
Case studies are generally not convincing, but survey responses suggest that marijuana and, by extension, cannabinoids may alleviate certain chronic pain syndromes. For example, in a recent survey of more than 100 regular marijuana users with multiple sclerosis, almost all participants reported that marijuana helped relieve spasticity and pain in the extremities (see chapter II). Some studies have found that marijuana may be useful for treating neuropathic pain (a specific type of chronic pain caused by damaged nerves). CNN), People suffering from chronic pain may find small to moderate short-term pain relief when they consume certain prescription cannabis products with higher levels of THC to CBD, but there are some worrying side effects, according to new research.
In these experiments, volunteers who experienced painful shocks, heat, or pressure from a tourniquet reported that THC actually increased their pain sensitivity. Since most people take medications for moderate pain, it would have been more useful to assess the ability of THC to relieve pain between the extremes that were actually measured (researchers often do this by asking participants to use a numerical scale to assess the pain they feel under various conditions). They found that 10 milligrams of THC provided the same pain relief as a 60 milligram (moderately strong) dose of codeine and that 20 milligrams of THC worked as well as 120 milligrams of codeine. In contrast, some clinical studies have not only failed to prove that THC relieves pain, but they have also found that the drug has the opposite effect.
Most importantly, scientists were once again unable to prove whether another pain reliever, instead of a sedative, would have performed better than THC in the test. The authors also noted that some patients who seemed calmer after taking THC reported that it had not relieved their pain; other patients said that, although their pain remained the same, it bothered them less. On average, participants found that the THC analog relieved mild, moderate and severe pain, as well as codeine, and better than secobarbital. Interestingly, during this study none of the patients experienced nausea or vomiting and more than half reported that their appetite increased, suggesting that oral THC acted as an antiemetic and appetite stimulant, as well as pain reliever.
Participants who used products containing at least 98 percent THC reported an approximately 30 percent reduction in pain symptoms. This THC analog had previously been shown to block pain in animals, and its ability to relieve moderate to severe pain in cancer patients was being tested. Two studies have examined the effectiveness of THC and levonantradol, a synthetic compound similar to THC, in relieving acute postoperative pain. It revealed that some cannabis products provide mild to moderate pain reduction and that those with a high THC to CBD ratio were more likely to reduce discomfort.
In a later study, the same researchers compared the effects of a single potent dose of THC with those of a relatively weak narcotic analgesic, codeine. To determine if these products could specifically reduce chronic pain, defined as persistent pain for three months or more, and how the proportion of THC and CBD affected their effectiveness, Marian McDonagh of Oregon Health Sciences University & and her colleagues analyzed previous research. .
