Studies on CBD are limited to preclinical data only, 29 Evidence suggests that CBD alone or in combination with THC can suppress chronic neuropathic pain and that CBD may have a protective effect after nerve injury, 30. Cannabis contains compounds that can relieve pain, nausea, and other symptoms. The components of cannabis that most pain relief studies focus on are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). People with arthritis and other chronic musculoskeletal pain are increasingly turning to cannabis products to relieve a variety of symptoms, such as pain, fatigue, insomnia and anxiety.
With cannabis-based treatments, significantly more people achieved pain relief of 50% or more than with placebo (21 vs 17%, number needed to treat 20); pain reduction of 30% was achieved in 39% of treated patients versus 33% of patients taking placebo (number needed for treat 1.Cannabis, better known as marijuana, in Canada makes many wonder if it is a good option for pain relief. THC is responsible for that “high” people get from marijuana, which can also play a role in pain relief. Research has also shown that it can increase the effect of glycine receptors, which help regulate pain at the spinal level and therefore suppress neuropathic pain (often considered as “shooting” or “burning” pain). There is little research available on the use of specific cannabis strains for pain and other symptoms.
However, little is known about the potential and mechanism of glycinergic cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain. Overall, available data support the efficacy of smoked or inhaled cannabis in its flower form when used as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy for the relief of neuropathic pain of various etiologies. The bottom line is that there is currently a lack of solid evidence to support cannabis-based drugs for neuropathic pain relief. Studies suggest that cannabis may be an option for patients whose pain responds poorly to standard treatments; however, its use may be restricted by cognitive and psychiatric adverse effects, especially at high doses.
These treatments can have significant adverse effects, and response rates remain suboptimal, with pain relief insufficient to improve the quality of life for many patients. We also provide mechanistic details of drug-receptor interaction and strategies for future studies to develop a new generation of glycinergic cannabinoid-based agents for the treatment of chronic pain and other diseases involving GlyR dysfunction. Patients in the 9.4% THC group reported significantly less pain and better sleep, with mean pain scores decreasing from 6.1 to 5.4 on an 11-point scale. The number of treatments needed to achieve a 30% pain reduction was approximately 3 for both cannabis groups compared to placebo.
However, there is still a need for further research in the area of cannabis use for chronic pain, especially in the use of different strains, doses and methods of administration.
